Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Millions, except Share data in Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Consolidated Statement of Income
SALES	$ 2,840	$ 2,702
Cost of sales, exclusive of depreciation and amortization	1,616	1,536
Selling, general and administrative	335	308
Depreciation and amortization	252	244
Research and development	24	22
Other income (expense) - net	14	(1)
OPERATING PROFIT	627	591
Interest expense - net	37	35
INCOME BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND EQUITY INVESTMENTS	590	556
Income taxes	165	156
INCOME BEFORE EQUITY INVESTMENTS	425	400
Income from equity investments	7	9
NET INCOME (INCLUDING NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS)	432	409
Less: noncontrolling interests	(13)	(11)
NET INCOME - PRAXAIR, INC.	$ 419	$ 398
Per share data - Praxair, Inc. Shareholders [Abstract]
Basic Earnings Per Share	$ 1.40	$ 1.31
Diluted Earnings Per Share	$ 1.38	$ 1.29
Cash dividends per share	$ 0.55	$ 0.50
WEIGHTED AVERAGE SHARES OUTSTANDING (000s):
Basic shares outstanding	299,077	304,071
Diluted shares outstanding	302,876	308,595