Earnings per share (EPS) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2024	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2024	Jun. 30, 2023
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income	$ 1,309	$ 1,212	$ 1,423	$ 1,181
Net (income) attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interests	(10)	(10)	(12)	(12)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2)	(3)	2	2
Adjustment of redeemable noncontrolling interests to redemption value	(3)	(2)	(7)	(12)
Net income attributable to CRH plc for EPS, basic	1,294	1,197	1,406	1,159
Net income attributable to CRH plc for EPS, diluted	$ 1,294	$ 1,197	$ 1,406	$ 1,159
Weighted average common shares outstanding, basic (in shares)	685,500,000	734,700,000	686,600,000	738,800,000
Effect of dilutive employee share awards (in shares)	3,300,000	3,500,000	4,500,000	4,600,000
Weighted average common shares outstanding, diluted (in shares)	688,800,000	738,200,000	691,100,000	743,400,000
Loss per share attributable to CRH plc, basic	$ 1.89	$ 1.63	$ 2.05	$ 1.57
Loss per share attributable to CRH plc, diluted	$ 1.88	$ 1.62	$ 2.03	$ 1.56
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share, amount			4,904,276	5,700,540