Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	Total	Linde plc Shareholders’ Equity	Ordinary shares	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated  Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Note 7)	Treasury Stock	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018			551,310				4,069
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 57,080	$ 51,596	$ 1	$ 40,151	$ 16,529	$ (4,456)	$ (629)	$ 5,484
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net Income available for Linde plc shareholders	2,379	2,285			2,285			94
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(435)	(358)				(358)		(77)
Noncontrolling interests:
Dividends and other capital reductions	(132)							(132)
Additions (Reductions) - (Note 14)	(2,921)							(2,921)
Redemption value adjustments (Note 14)	(8)	(8)			(8)
Dividends	(1,891)	(1,891)			(1,891)
Issuances of common stock:
For employee savings and incentive plans (in shares)			703				770
For employee savings and incentive plans	9	9		(45)	(73)		$ 127
Purchases of common stock (in shares)							14,333
Purchases of common stock/ordinary shares	(2,654)	(2,654)					$ (2,654)
Share-based compensation	95	95		95
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019			552,013				17,632
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	51,522	49,074	$ 1	40,201	16,842	(4,814)	$ (3,156)	2,448
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net Income available for Linde plc shareholders	2,626	2,501			2,501			125
Other comprehensive income (loss)	157	124				124		33
Noncontrolling interests:
Dividends and other capital reductions	(161)							(161)
Additions (Reductions) - (Note 14)	(193)							(193)
Redemption value adjustments (Note 14)	17	17			17
Dividends	(2,028)	(2,028)			(2,028)
Issuances of common stock:
For employee savings and incentive plans (in shares)							1,208
For employee savings and incentive plans	(53)	(53)		(132)	(154)		$ 233
Purchases of common stock (in shares)							12,294
Purchases of common stock/ordinary shares	(2,451)	(2,451)					$ (2,451)
Share-based compensation	133	133		133
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020			552,013				28,718
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	49,569	47,317	$ 1	40,202	17,178	(4,690)	$ (5,374)	2,252
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net Income available for Linde plc shareholders	3,961	3,826			3,826			135
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(358)	(358)				(358)		0
Noncontrolling interests:
Dividends and other capital reductions	(118)							(118)
Additions (Reductions) - (Note 14)	(876)							(876)
Dividends	(2,189)	(2,189)			(2,189)
Issuances of common stock:
For employee savings and incentive plans (in shares)							1,026
For employee savings and incentive plans	(46)	(46)		(150)	(105)		$ 209
Purchases of common stock (in shares)							15,640
Purchases of common stock/ordinary shares	(4,643)	(4,643)					$ (4,643)
Share-based compensation	128	128		128
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021			552,013				43,332
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 45,428	$ 44,035	$ 1	$ 40,180	$ 18,710	$ (5,048)	$ (9,808)	$ 1,393