Segment Information - Reportable Segments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Sales by Major Country [Line Items]
Sales	$ 30,793	$ 27,243	$ 28,228
Operating Income (Loss)	4,984	3,322	2,933
Cost reduction programs and other charges (Note 3)	(273)	(506)	(567)
Net gain on sale of businesses	0	0	164
Merger-related divestitures			263
Depreciation and amortization	4,635	4,626	4,675
Purchase accounting impacts - Linde AG	1,863	1,920	1,940
Capital Expenditures and Acquisitions	3,174	3,468	3,907
Total long-lived assets	26,003	28,711	29,064
United States
Sales by Major Country [Line Items]
Sales	9,123	8,475	8,604
Total long-lived assets	7,659	7,777	7,498
Germany
Sales by Major Country [Line Items]
Sales	3,601	3,740	3,630
Total long-lived assets	2,003	2,394	2,429
China
Sales by Major Country [Line Items]
Sales	2,562	2,061	2,005
Total long-lived assets	2,385	2,413	2,254
United Kingdom
Sales by Major Country [Line Items]
Sales	2,060	1,595	1,653
Total long-lived assets	1,078	1,313	1,479
Australia
Sales by Major Country [Line Items]
Sales	1,307	1,071	1,127
Total long-lived assets	872	1,105	1,214
Brazil
Sales by Major Country [Line Items]
Sales	1,065	822	994
Total long-lived assets	705	734	956
Other – non-U.S.
Sales by Major Country [Line Items]
Sales	11,075	9,479	10,215
Total long-lived assets	11,301	12,976	13,234
Americas Segment
Sales by Major Country [Line Items]
Sales	12,103	10,459	10,989
EMEA
Sales by Major Country [Line Items]
Sales	7,643	6,449	6,643
APAC
Sales by Major Country [Line Items]
Sales	6,133	5,687	5,779
Engineering
Sales by Major Country [Line Items]
Sales	2,867	2,851	2,799
Other
Sales by Major Country [Line Items]
Sales	2,047	1,797	2,018
Operating Segments
Sales by Major Country [Line Items]
Sales	30,793	27,243	28,163
Operating Income (Loss)	7,176	5,797	5,272
Operating Segments | Americas Segment
Sales by Major Country [Line Items]
Sales	12,103	10,459	10,989
Operating Income (Loss)	3,368	2,773	2,577
Depreciation and amortization	1,243	1,196	1,195
Capital Expenditures and Acquisitions	1,354	1,425	1,814
Operating Segments | EMEA
Sales by Major Country [Line Items]
Sales	7,643	6,449	6,643
Operating Income (Loss)	1,889	1,465	1,367
Depreciation and amortization	752	723	749
Capital Expenditures and Acquisitions	669	670	738
Operating Segments | APAC
Sales by Major Country [Line Items]
Sales	6,133	5,687	5,779
Operating Income (Loss)	1,502	1,277	1,184
Depreciation and amortization	611	619	613
Capital Expenditures and Acquisitions	995	1,214	1,231
Operating Segments | Engineering
Sales by Major Country [Line Items]
Sales	2,867	2,851	2,799
Operating Income (Loss)	473	435	390
Depreciation and amortization	39	36	35
Capital Expenditures and Acquisitions	25	13	79
Operating Segments | Other
Sales by Major Country [Line Items]
Sales	2,047	1,797	1,953
Operating Income (Loss)	(56)	(153)	(246)
Depreciation and amortization	127	132	143
Capital Expenditures and Acquisitions	131	146	45
Segment Reconciling Items
Sales by Major Country [Line Items]
Sales	0	0	65
Cost reduction programs and other charges (Note 3)	(273)	(506)	(567)
Net gain on sale of businesses	0	0	164
Purchase accounting impacts - Linde AG	(1,919)	(1,969)	(1,952)
Merger-related divestitures	0	0	16
Depreciation and amortization	$ 2,772	$ 2,706	$ 2,735