Bonds acquired.

No definition available.

Name:	crh_BondsAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	crh_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Borrowings listing description.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	crh_BorrowingsListingDescription
Namespace Prefix:	crh_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes of the table. Supplemental guarantor information.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	crh_DisclosureOfSupplementalGuarantorInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	crh_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of outstanding funds that the entity is obligated to repay.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Name IAS
-Number 1
-IssueDate 2019-01-01
-Paragraph 55
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=1&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_55&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2019-03-27

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_Borrowings
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The interest rate on borrowings. [Refer: Borrowings]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Name IFRS
-Number 7
-IssueDate 2019-01-01
-Paragraph 7
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=7&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_7&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2019-03-27

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_BorrowingsInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The maturity of borrowings. [Refer: Borrowings]

+ References

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_BorrowingsMaturity
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The proportion of ownership interest in a subsidiary attributable to the entity. [Refer: Subsidiaries [member]]

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 27
-IssueDate 2019-01-01
-Paragraph 17
-Subparagraph b
-Clause iii
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=27&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_17_b_iii&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2019-03-27

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IAS
-Number 27
-IssueDate 2019-01-01
-Paragraph 16
-Subparagraph b
-Clause iii
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IAS&num=27&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_16_b_iii&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2019-03-27

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Name IFRS
-Number 12
-IssueDate 2019-01-01
-Paragraph 19B
-Subparagraph c
-URI http://eifrs.ifrs.org/eifrs/xifrs-link?type=IFRS&num=12&code=ifrs-tx-2019-en-r&anchor=para_19B_c&doctype=Standard
-URIDate 2019-03-27

+ Details

Name:	ifrs-full_ProportionOfOwnershipInterestInSubsidiary
Namespace Prefix:	ifrs-full_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_SignificantInvestmentsInSubsidiariesAxis=crh_CRHAmericaFinanceIncMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_CategoriesOfRelatedPartiesAxis=crh_CRHAmericaIncorporationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_BorrowingsByNameAxis=crh_FivePointSevenFiveZeroPercentageNotesDueTwoThousandAndTwentyOneMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_BorrowingsByNameAxis=crh_ThreePointEightSevenFivePercentageNotesDueTwoThousandAndTwentyFiveMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_BorrowingsByNameAxis=crh_SixPointFourZeroPercentageNotesDueTwoThousandAndThirtyThreeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	ifrs-full_BorrowingsByNameAxis=crh_FivePointOneTwoFivePercentageNotesDueTwoThousandAndFortyFiveMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Supplemental Guarantor Information - Additional Information (Detail) $ in Thousands, € in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2003 USD ($)
Disclosure of supplemental guarantor information [line items]
Percentage of ownership interest	100.00%
Notes \| €	€ 9,014		€ 9,316
Bonds acquired				$ 87,445
CRH America Finance Inc [member]
Disclosure of supplemental guarantor information [line items]
Percentage of ownership interest	100.00%
CRH America, Inc [member] \| 5.750% Notes Due 2021 [member]
Disclosure of supplemental guarantor information [line items]
Notes		$ 400,000
Notes interest rate	5.75%	5.75%
Notes maturity year	2021
Notes listing description	NYSE
CRH America, Inc [member] \| 3.875% Notes Due 2025 [member]
Disclosure of supplemental guarantor information [line items]
Notes		$ 1,250,000
Notes interest rate	3.875%	3.875%
Notes maturity year	2025
Notes listing description	Euronext Dublin
CRH America, Inc [member] \| 6.40% Notes Due 2033 [member]
Disclosure of supplemental guarantor information [line items]
Notes		$ 300,000			$ 300,000
Notes interest rate	6.40%	6.40%
Notes maturity year	2033
Notes listing description	Euronext Dublin
Bonds acquired				$ 87,445
CRH America, Inc [member] \| 5.125 Notes Due 2045 [member]
Disclosure of supplemental guarantor information [line items]
Notes		$ 500,000
Notes interest rate	5.125%	5.125%
Notes maturity year	2045
Notes listing description	Euronext Dublin