Earnings per share (EPS) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2024	Mar. 31, 2023
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income (loss)	$ 114	$ (31)
Net (income) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests	(2)	(2)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	4	5
Adjustment of redeemable noncontrolling interests to redemption value	(4)	(10)
Net income attributable to CRH plc for EPS, basic	112	(38)
Net income attributable to CRH plc for EPS, diluted	$ 112	$ (38)
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic (in shares)	687,800,000	742,900,000
Effect of dilutive employee share awards (in shares)	5,600,000	0
Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted (in shares)	693,400,000	742,900,000
Loss per share attributable to CRH plc, basic	$ 0.16	$ (0.05)
Loss per share attributable to CRH plc, diluted	$ 0.16	$ (0.05)
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share, amount	4,045,950	6,928,751