Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales	$ 30,793	$ 27,243	$ 28,228
Cost of sales, exclusive of depreciation and amortization	17,543	15,383	16,644
Selling, general and administrative	3,189	3,193	3,457
Depreciation and amortization	4,635	4,626	4,675
Research and development	143	152	184
Cost reduction programs and other charges	273	506	567
Net gain on sale of businesses	0	0	164
Other income (expenses) – net	(26)	(61)	68
Operating Profit	4,984	3,322	2,933
Interest expense – net	77	115	38
Net pension and OPEB cost (benefit), excluding service cost	(192)	(177)	(32)
Income From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes and Equity Investments	5,099	3,384	2,927
Income taxes on continuing operations	1,262	847	769
Income From Continuing Operations Before Equity Investments	3,837	2,537	2,158
Income from equity investments	119	85	114
Income From Continuing Operations (Including Noncontrolling Interests)	3,956	2,622	2,272
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	5	4	109
Net Income (Including Noncontrolling Interests)	3,961	2,626	2,381
Less: noncontrolling interests from continuing operations	(135)	(125)	(89)
Less: noncontrolling interests from discontinued operations	0	0	(7)
Net Income – Linde plc	3,826	2,501	2,285
Net Income – Linde plc
Income from continuing operations	3,821	2,497	2,183
Income from discontinued operations	$ 5	$ 4	$ 102
Per Share Data – Linde plc Shareholders
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 7.39	$ 4.74	$ 4.03
Basic earnings per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.01	0.01	0.19
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	7.40	4.75	4.22
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	7.32	4.70	4.00
Diluted earnings per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.01	0.01	0.19
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 7.33	$ 4.71	$ 4.19
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (000’s):
Basic shares outstanding (in shares)	516,896	526,736	541,094
Diluted shares outstanding (in shares)	521,875	531,157	545,170