Consolidated Statements of Income - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Sales	$ 6,739	$ 6,944
Cost of sales, exclusive of depreciation and amortization	3,843	4,116
Selling, general and administrative	861	879
Depreciation and amortization	1,142	1,223
Research and development	44	46
Cost reduction programs and other charges	131	89
Other income (expense) - net	15	18
Operating Profit	733	609
Interest expense - net	24	23
Net pension and OPEB cost (benefit), excluding service cost	(45)	15
Income From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes and Equity Investments	754	571
Income taxes on continuing operations	165	140
Income From Continuing Operations Before Equity Investments	589	431
Income from equity investments	17	34
Income From Continuing Operations (Including Noncontrolling Interests)	606	465
Income from discontinued operations, net of tax	2	89
Net Income (Including Noncontrolling Interests)	608	554
Less: noncontrolling interests from continuing operations	(35)	(30)
Less: noncontrolling interest from discontinued operations	0	(7)
Net Income – Linde plc	573	517
Income from continuing operations	571	435
Income from discontinued operations	$ 2	$ 82
Per Share Data – Linde plc Shareholders
Basic earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 1.07	$ 0.80
Basic earnings per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0	0.15
Basic earnings per share (in dollars per share)	1.07	0.95
Diluted earnings per share from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	1.07	0.79
Diluted earnings per share from discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0	0.15
Diluted earnings per share (in dollars per share)	$ 1.07	$ 0.94
Weighted Average Shares Outstanding (000’s):
Basic shares outstanding (in shares)	531,215	545,554
Diluted shares outstanding (in shares)	534,956	549,147