Equity - Schedule of Stockholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2018
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	$ 50,564		$ 50,564		$ 51,596
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	56,632	$ 6,884	57,080	$ 6,511
Net income	551	498	1,104	969
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(163)	(637)	(9)	(508)
Additions (reductions)	(3,074)	1	(3,066)	7
Dividends and other capital changes	(76)	(13)	(80)	(16)
Redemption value adjustments		0		2
Dividends to Linde plc ordinary share holders ($0.875 per share in 2019 and $0.825 per share in 2018)	(474)	(237)	(951)	(474)
For the dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan		1	0	3
For employee savings and incentive plans	(13)	15	(7)	18
Purchases of common stock	(526)	(1)	(1,230)	(1)
Share-based compensation	22	17	38	21
Balance, end of period	$ 52,879	$ 6,528	$ 52,879	$ 6,528
Dividends paid (in dollars per share)	$ 0.875	$ 0.825	$ 1.75	$ 1.65
Non-controlling participation exchanged (as a percent)		8.00%		8.00%
Net income related to redeemable noncontrolling interests	$ 1	$ 1	$ 1	$ 2
Linde plc Shareholders’ Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	51,175	6,368		6,018
Net income	522	480	1,039	942
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(142)	(616)	79	(498)
Redemption value adjustments				2
Dividends to Linde plc ordinary share holders ($0.875 per share in 2019 and $0.825 per share in 2018)	(474)	(237)	(951)	(474)
For the dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan		1	0	3
For employee savings and incentive plans	(13)	15	(7)	18
Purchases of common stock	(526)	(1)	(1,230)	(1)
Share-based compensation	22	17	38	21
Balance, end of period	50,564	6,027	50,564	6,027
Noncontrolling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance, beginning of period	5,457	516	5,484	493
Net income	29	18	65	27
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(21)	(21)	(88)	(10)
Additions (reductions)	(3,074)	1	(3,066)	7
Dividends and other capital changes	(76)	(13)	(80)	(16)
Balance, end of period	$ 2,315	$ 501	$ 2,315	501
Linde AG
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Noncontrolling interest, ownership percentage by noncontrolling owners				$ 3,200