Income Taxes - Net Deferred Tax Liabilities and Valuation Allowances (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Deferred Tax Liabilities
Fixed assets				$ 3,539	$ 3,935
Goodwill				145	124
Other intangible assets				3,688	3,684
Subsidiary/equity investments				664	570
Other				789	648
Deferred tax liabilities				8,825	8,961
Deferred Tax Assets
Carryforwards				441	526
Benefit plans and related				721	575
Inventory				72	63
Accruals and other				1,167	1,112
Total gross deferred tax assets				2,401	2,276
Less: Valuation allowances	$ (222)	$ (76)	$ (76)	(222)	(237)
Total net deferred tax assets				2,179	2,039
Other long-term assets				243	510
Deferred credits				6,889	7,432
Total deferred tax liabilities				6,646	6,922
Deferred tax liability, right-of-use lease assets				255
Deferred tax asset - pension, OPEB				446	292
Deferred tax asset, lease liabilities				255
Deferred tax asset - research and development				$ 81	$ 104
Valuation Allowance [Abstract]
Valuation allowances	(237)	(76)	(132)
Income tax (charge) benefit	(31)	(51)	59
Merger with Linde AG	18	(121)	0
Other, including write-offs (ii)	26	7	0
Translation adjustments	2	4	(3)
Valuation allowances	(222)	$ (237)	(76)
U.S. Foreign Tax Credit Benefit, enactment of Tax Act			$ 59
Linde AG
Valuation Allowance [Abstract]
Other, including write-offs (ii)	$ 26