Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Calculation Abstract
Change in cash and cash equivalents	$ 17	$ 47
OPERATIONS
Net income - Praxair, Inc.	419	398
Noncontrolling interests	13	11
NET INCOME (INCLUDING NONCONTROLLING INTERESTS)	432	409
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	252	244
Deferred income taxes	69	34
Share-based compensation	17	14
Accounts receivable	(143)	(178)
Inventory	(31)	(17)
Prepaid and other current assets	4	(4)
Payables and accruals	(95)	(143)
Pension Contributions	(106)	(8)
Other	3	8
Net cash provided by operating activities	402	359
INVESTING
Capital expenditures	(483)	(334)
Acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(12)	0
Divestitures and asset sales	64	30
Net cash used for investing activities	(431)	(304)
FINANCING
Short-term debt borrowings (repayments) - net	(88)	(46)
Long-term debt borrowings	596	506
Long-term debt repayments	(230)	(197)
Issuances of common stock	73	77
Purchases of common stock	(175)	(215)
Cash dividends - Praxair, Inc. shareholders	(164)	(152)
Excess tax benefit on share-based compensation	32	18
Noncontrolling interest transactions and other	0	(1)
Net cash provided by (used for) financing activities	44	(10)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	2	2
Change in cash and cash equivalents	17	47
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of period	90	39
Cash and cash equivalents, end of period	$ 107	$ 86