Other Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Beginning Period Cost	$ 16,942	$ 1,437
Foreign currency translation	(91)	(12)
Measurement period adjustments (Note 3)	662
Disposals (Note 4)		(112)
Other	(19)	(23)
Ending Period Cost	17,581	16,942	$ 1,437
Beginning Accumulated Amortization	(719)	(652)
Amortization expense	(735)	(215)	(91)
Foreign currency translation	(2)
Other	8	24
Ending Accumulated Amortization	(1,444)	(719)	(652)
Net intangible assets	$ 16,137	16,223
Remaining weighted-average amortization period for intangible asset	28 years
Additional Finite Lived Intangible Asset Information (Details) [Abstract]
2020	$ 718
2021	713
2022	595
2023	570
2024	556
Thereafter	11,115
Total amortization related to finite-lived intangible assets	14,267
Indefinite-lived intangible assets	1,870
Customer Relationships
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Beginning Period Cost	13,288	772
Foreign currency translation	(59)	(4)
Measurement period adjustments (Note 3)	(8)
Disposals (Note 4)		(55)
Other	(46)	(20)
Ending Period Cost	13,205	13,288	772
Beginning Accumulated Amortization	(317)	(260)
Amortization expense	(584)	(135)
Other	16	19
Ending Accumulated Amortization	(885)	(317)	(260)
Net intangible assets	12,320	12,971
Brands/Tradenames
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Beginning Period Cost	2,288	46
Foreign currency translation	(21)	0
Measurement period adjustments (Note 3)	492
Disposals (Note 4)		(5)
Other	(1)	0
Ending Period Cost	2,764	2,288	46
Beginning Accumulated Amortization	(22)	(18)
Amortization expense	(47)	(9)
Foreign currency translation	0
Other	0	0
Ending Accumulated Amortization	(69)	(22)	(18)
Net intangible assets	2,695	2,266
Other Intangible Assets
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Beginning Period Cost	1,366	619
Foreign currency translation	(11)	(8)
Measurement period adjustments (Note 3)	178
Disposals (Note 4)		(52)
Other	28	(3)
Ending Period Cost	1,612	1,366	619
Beginning Accumulated Amortization	(380)	(374)
Amortization expense	(104)	(71)
Foreign currency translation	(2)
Other	(8)	5
Ending Accumulated Amortization	(490)	(380)	$ (374)
Net intangible assets	1,122	986
Linde AG
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Additions (primarily acquisitions)		27
Foreign currency translation		136
Disposals (Note 4)		(227)
Amortization expense	(642)	(121)
Linde AG | Customer Relationships
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Additions (primarily acquisitions)		1
Foreign currency translation		121
Disposals (Note 4)		(141)
Linde AG | Brands/Tradenames
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Additions (primarily acquisitions)		0
Foreign currency translation		24
Disposals (Note 4)		(8)
Linde AG | Other Intangible Assets
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Additions (primarily acquisitions)		26
Foreign currency translation		(9)
Disposals (Note 4)		(78)
2018 Non-Merger Related Acquisitions
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Additions (primarily acquisitions)	87	15,592
2018 Non-Merger Related Acquisitions | Customer Relationships
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Additions (primarily acquisitions)	30	12,555
2018 Non-Merger Related Acquisitions | Brands/Tradenames
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Additions (primarily acquisitions)	6	2,226
2018 Non-Merger Related Acquisitions | Other Intangible Assets
Finite Lived Intangible Assets [Line Items]
Additions (primarily acquisitions)	$ 51	$ 811