Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions		Total	Common Stock $1 par	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Income	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Less: Treasury Stock	Total SPGI Equity	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2013		$ 1,344	$ 412	$ 447	$ 7,384	$ (196)	$ 6,746	$ 1,301	$ 43
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Comprehensive income	[1]	(423)			(115)	(318)		(433)	10
Dividends		(332)			(324)			(324)	(8)
Share repurchases		(346)					352	(352)
Employee stock plans, net of tax benefit		295		46			(249)	295
Change in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest		(1)			(1)			(1)
Other		2			2			2
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2014		539	412	493	6,946	(514)	6,849	488	51
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Comprehensive income	[1]	1,081			1,156	(86)		1,070	11
Dividends		(368)			(359)			(359)	(9)
Share repurchases		(1,002)					1,000	(1,000)	(2)
Employee stock plans, net of tax benefit		102		(18)			(120)	102
Change in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest		(107)			(107)			(107)
Other		(2)						0	(2)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2015		243	412	475	7,636	(600)	7,729	194	49
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Comprehensive income	[1]	1,946			2,106	(173)		1,933	13
Dividends		(390)			(380)			(380)	(10)
Share repurchases		(1,097)					1,097	(1,097)	0
Employee stock plans, net of tax benefit		152		27			(125)	152
Change in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest		(153)			(153)			(153)
Other		0			1			1	(1)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2016		$ 701	$ 412	$ 502	$ 9,210	$ (773)	$ 8,701	$ 650	$ 51

[1] Excludes $109 million, $101 million and $92 million in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively, attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest.