Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions		Total	Total SPGI Equity	Common Stock $1 par	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Income		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss		Less: Treasury Stock	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2016		$ 701	$ 650	$ 412	$ 502	$ 9,210		$ (773)		$ (8,701)	$ 51
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Comprehensive income	[1]	1,635	1,620			1,496		124			15
Dividends (Dividend declared per common share)		(431)	(421)			(421)					(10)
Share repurchases		(1,006)	(1,001)							1,001	(5)
Employee stock plans		131	123		23					(100)	8
Change in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest		(260)	(260)			(260)
Other		(4)	(2)			(2)					(2)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2017		766	709	412	525	10,023		(649)		(9,602)	57
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Comprehensive income	[1]	1,867	1,855			1,958		(103)			12
Dividends (Dividend declared per common share)		(514)	(503)			(503)					(11)
Share repurchases		(1,660)	(1,660)		(75)					1,585
Retirement of common stock				(118)						(118)
Employee stock plans		84	84		56					(28)
Change in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest		(228)	(228)			(228)
Increase in CRISIL ownership		(23)	(25)		(25)						2
Stock consideration for Kensho		352	352		352
Other		40	44			34		10			(4)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2018		684	628	294	833	11,284		(742)		(11,041)	56
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Comprehensive income	[1]	2,251	2,241			2,123		118			10
Dividends (Dividend declared per common share)		(570)	(560)			(560)					(10)
Share repurchases		(1,240)	(1,240)		75					1,315
Employee stock plans		52	52		(5)					(57)
Capital contribution from noncontrolling interest		(36)	(36)			(36)
Change in redemption value of redeemable noncontrolling interest		(608)	(608)			(608)
Other		3	2			2	[2]		[2]		1
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2019		$ 536	$ 479	$ 294	$ 903	$ 12,205		$ (624)		$ (12,299)	$ 57

[1] Excludes $170 million, $151 million and $129 million in 2019, 2018 and 2017, respectively, attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest.

[2] Includes opening balance sheet adjustments related to the adoption of the new revenue recognition standard and the reclassification of the unrealized loss on investments from Accumulated other comprehensive loss to Retained income.