Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements - Balance Sheet (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 2,667		$ 2,866
Restricted cash	17		20
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	1,557		1,577
Intercompany receivable	0		0
Prepaid and other current assets	218		249
Total current assets	4,459		4,712
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	299		320
Right of use assets	626		676
Goodwill	3,700		3,575
Other intangible assets, net	1,407		1,424
Investments in subsidiaries	0		0
Intercompany loans receivable	0		0
Other non-current assets	614		641
Total assets	11,105		11,348
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	186		190
Intercompany payable	0		0
Accrued compensation and contributions to retirement plans	295		446
Income taxes currently payable	274		68
Unearned revenue	1,850		1,928
Other current liabilities	435		461
Total current liabilities	3,040		3,093
Long-term debt	3,950		3,948
Lease liabilities — non-current	578		620
Intercompany loans payable	0		0
Pension and other postretirement benefits	260		259
Other non-current liabilities	606		624
Total liabilities	8,434		8,544
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	2,403		2,268
Equity:
Common stock	294		294
Additional paid-in capital	762		903
Retained income	13,189		12,205
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(704)		(624)
Less: common stock in treasury	(13,331)		(12,299)
Total equity — controlling interests	210		479
Total equity - noncontrolling interests	58		57
Total equity	268	$ (194)	536	$ 570	$ 388	$ 684
Total liabilities and equity	11,105		11,348
Eliminations
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0
Restricted cash	0		0
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	0		0
Intercompany receivable	(8,154)		(7,513)
Prepaid and other current assets	0		0
Total current assets	(8,154)		(7,513)
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	0		0
Right of use assets	0		0
Goodwill	7		9
Other intangible assets, net	0		0
Investments in subsidiaries	(20,311)		(20,228)
Intercompany loans receivable	(964)		(1,246)
Other non-current assets	(1)		(1)
Total assets	(29,423)		(28,979)
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	0		0
Intercompany payable	(8,154)		(7,513)
Accrued compensation and contributions to retirement plans	0		0
Income taxes currently payable	0		0
Unearned revenue	0		0
Other current liabilities	0		0
Total current liabilities	(8,154)		(7,513)
Long-term debt	0		0
Lease liabilities — non-current	0		0
Intercompany loans payable	(964)		(1,246)
Pension and other postretirement benefits	0		0
Other non-current liabilities	0		(1)
Total liabilities	(9,118)		(8,760)
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	2,403		2,268
Equity:
Common stock	(2,375)		(2,377)
Additional paid-in capital	(9,359)		(9,203)
Retained income	(11,079)		(11,010)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	49		48
Less: common stock in treasury	0		0
Total equity — controlling interests	(22,764)		(22,542)
Total equity - noncontrolling interests	56		55
Total equity	(22,708)		(22,487)
Total liabilities and equity	(29,423)		(28,979)
S&P Global Inc. | Reportable Legal Entities
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	1,602		1,130
Restricted cash	0		0
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	224		229
Intercompany receivable	599		675
Prepaid and other current assets	87		102
Total current assets	2,512		2,136
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	193		204
Right of use assets	377		402
Goodwill	283		283
Other intangible assets, net	0		0
Investments in subsidiaries	12,080		12,134
Intercompany loans receivable	17		17
Other non-current assets	249		281
Total assets	15,711		15,457
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	67		80
Intercompany payable	6,998		6,288
Accrued compensation and contributions to retirement plans	114		148
Income taxes currently payable	223		7
Unearned revenue	317		297
Other current liabilities	176		187
Total current liabilities	7,895		7,007
Long-term debt	3,950		3,948
Lease liabilities — non-current	361		383
Intercompany loans payable	0		0
Pension and other postretirement benefits	177		178
Other non-current liabilities	161		171
Total liabilities	12,544		11,687
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	0		0
Equity:
Common stock	294		294
Additional paid-in capital	(29)		112
Retained income	16,429		15,836
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(197)		(175)
Less: common stock in treasury	(13,330)		(12,297)
Total equity — controlling interests	3,167		3,770
Total equity - noncontrolling interests	0		0
Total equity	3,167		3,770
Total liabilities and equity	15,711		15,457
Standard & Poor's Financial Services LLC | Reportable Legal Entities
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0		0
Restricted cash	0		0
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	264		148
Intercompany receivable	3,129		2,855
Prepaid and other current assets	0		2
Total current assets	3,393		3,005
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	0		0
Right of use assets	1		1
Goodwill	0		0
Other intangible assets, net	0		0
Investments in subsidiaries	5		6
Intercompany loans receivable	0		0
Other non-current assets	35		37
Total assets	3,434		3,049
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	16		11
Intercompany payable	28		27
Accrued compensation and contributions to retirement plans	28		61
Income taxes currently payable	0		0
Unearned revenue	251		243
Other current liabilities	14		18
Total current liabilities	337		360
Long-term debt	0		0
Lease liabilities — non-current	1		1
Intercompany loans payable	0		0
Pension and other postretirement benefits	0		0
Other non-current liabilities	75		81
Total liabilities	413		442
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	0		0
Equity:
Common stock	0		0
Additional paid-in capital	635		632
Retained income	2,386		1,975
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	0		0
Less: common stock in treasury	0		0
Total equity — controlling interests	3,021		2,607
Total equity - noncontrolling interests	0		0
Total equity	3,021		2,607
Total liabilities and equity	3,434		3,049
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries | Reportable Legal Entities
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	1,065		1,736
Restricted cash	17		20
Accounts receivable, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	1,069		1,200
Intercompany receivable	4,426		3,983
Prepaid and other current assets	131		145
Total current assets	6,708		7,084
Property and equipment, net of accumulated depreciation	106		116
Right of use assets	248		273
Goodwill	3,410		3,283
Other intangible assets, net	1,407		1,424
Investments in subsidiaries	8,226		8,088
Intercompany loans receivable	947		1,229
Other non-current assets	331		324
Total assets	21,383		21,821
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable	103		99
Intercompany payable	1,128		1,198
Accrued compensation and contributions to retirement plans	153		237
Income taxes currently payable	51		61
Unearned revenue	1,282		1,388
Other current liabilities	245		256
Total current liabilities	2,962		3,239
Long-term debt	0		0
Lease liabilities — non-current	216		236
Intercompany loans payable	964		1,246
Pension and other postretirement benefits	83		81
Other non-current liabilities	370		373
Total liabilities	4,595		5,175
Redeemable noncontrolling interest	0		0
Equity:
Common stock	2,375		2,377
Additional paid-in capital	9,515		9,362
Retained income	5,453		5,404
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(556)		(497)
Less: common stock in treasury	(1)		(2)
Total equity — controlling interests	16,786		16,644
Total equity - noncontrolling interests	2		2
Total equity	16,788		16,646
Total liabilities and equity	$ 21,383		$ 21,821