Pension and other postretirement benefits - Schedule of Level 3 Reconciliation for Pension Plans by Asset (Details) - Level 3 - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
United States
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	$ 4	$ 19
Actual return on plan assets, relating to assets still held at reporting date	0	1
Purchases, sales and settlements	0	(1)
Transfer out of Level 3	(2)	(15)
Change due to exchange rate changes	0
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	2	4
United States \| Investment funds
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	0	11
Actual return on plan assets, relating to assets still held at reporting date		0
Purchases, sales and settlements		0
Transfer out of Level 3		(11)
Fair value of plan assets at end of year		0
United States \| Other
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	4	8
Actual return on plan assets, relating to assets still held at reporting date	0	1
Purchases, sales and settlements	0	(1)
Transfer out of Level 3	(2)	(4)
Change due to exchange rate changes	0
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	2	4
Non-U.S.
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	139	132
Actual return on plan assets, relating to assets still held at reporting date	6	13
Purchases, sales and settlements	(15)	(10)
Transfer out of Level 3	0
Change due to exchange rate changes	(9)	4
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	121	139
Non-U.S. \| Real estate
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	14	13
Actual return on plan assets, relating to assets still held at reporting date	0	0
Purchases, sales and settlements	(6)	0
Transfer out of Level 3	0
Change due to exchange rate changes	0	1
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	8	14
Non-U.S. \| Assets held by insurance company
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	117	113
Actual return on plan assets, relating to assets still held at reporting date	6	11
Purchases, sales and settlements	(9)	(10)
Transfer out of Level 3	0
Change due to exchange rate changes	(9)	3
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	105	117
Non-U.S. \| Other
Change in plan assets
Fair value of plan assets at beginning of year	8	6
Actual return on plan assets, relating to assets still held at reporting date	0	2
Purchases, sales and settlements	0	0
Transfer out of Level 3	0
Change due to exchange rate changes	0	0
Fair value of plan assets at end of year	$ 8	$ 8

Defined Benefit Plan, Plan Assets Level 3 Reconciliation, Increase (Decrease) for Foreign Currency Exchange Rates

No definition available.

Name:	crh_DefinedBenefitPlanPlanAssetsLevel3ReconciliationIncreaseDecreaseForForeignCurrencyExchangeRates
Namespace Prefix:	crh_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, measured using unobservable inputs, of increase (decrease) in plan assets of defined benefit plan from actual return (loss) on assets still held.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanActualReturnOnPlanAssetsStillHeld
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanChangeInFairValueOfPlanAssetsRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of asset segregated and restricted to provide benefit under defined benefit plan. Asset includes, but is not limited to, stock, bond, other investment, earning from investment, and contribution by employer and employee.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 17
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480482/715-20-55-17

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(iv)(02)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-1

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(ii)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-1

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(iv)(01)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-1

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-1

Reference 6: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(ii)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-1

Reference 7: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)(iv)(01)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480506/715-20-50-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount, measured using unobservable input, of increase (decrease) in plan asset of defined benefit plan from purchase, sale and settlement of trade associated with underlying investment.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPurchasesSalesAndSettlements
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, measured using unobservable inputs, of increase (decrease) in plan assets of defined benefit plan, for assets transferred into (out of) Level 3 of fair value hierarchy. Includes, but is not limited to, transfer due to change in observability of significant inputs.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanTransfersBetweenMeasurementLevels
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanSponsorLocationAxis=country_US
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis=crh_DefinedBenefitPlanInvestmentFundsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis=crh_DefinedBenefitPlanOtherMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RetirementPlanSponsorLocationAxis=us-gaap_ForeignPlanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis=us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanRealEstateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanByPlanAssetCategoriesAxis=crh_DefinedBenefitPlanAssetsHeldByInsuranceCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: