CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales	$ 7,584	$ 6,377	$ 14,827	$ 13,116
Cost of sales, exclusive of depreciation and amortization	4,194	3,619	8,248	7,462
Selling, general and administrative	822	760	1,609	1,621
Depreciation and amortization	1,171	1,124	2,337	2,266
Research and development	34	34	69	78
Cost reduction programs and other charges	204	249	196	380
Other income (expense) - net	(17)	0	(13)	15
Operating Profit	1,142	591	2,355	1,324
Interest expense - net	18	18	38	42
Net pension and OPEB cost (benefit), excluding service cost	(49)	(45)	(98)	(90)
Income From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes and Equity Investments	1,173	618	2,415	1,372
Income taxes on continuing operations	334	164	602	329
Income From Continuing Operations Before Equity Investments	839	454	1,813	1,043
Income from equity investments	37	29	80	46
Income From Continuing Operations (Including Noncontrolling Interests)	876	483	1,893	1,089
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	1	0	2	2
Net Income (Including Noncontrolling Interests)	877	483	1,895	1,091
Less: noncontrolling interests from continuing operations	(36)	(25)	(74)	(60)
Less: noncontrolling interest from discontinued operations	0	0	0	0
Net Income – Linde plc	841	458	1,821	1,031
Income from continuing operations	840	458	1,819	1,029
Income from discontinued operations	$ 1	$ 0	$ 2	$ 2
Per Share Data – Linde plc Shareholders
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.62	$ 0.87	$ 3.49	$ 1.95
Basic earnings per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0	0	0	0
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	1.62	0.87	3.49	1.95
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	1.60	0.87	3.46	1.93
Diluted earnings per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0	0	0	0
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.60	$ 0.87	$ 3.46	$ 1.93
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (000’s):
Basic shares outstanding (in shares)	518,950	525,510	520,691	528,385
Diluted shares outstanding (in shares)	523,723	529,054	525,380	532,112