XML 109 R90.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.8.0.1

Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2017 | Sep. 22, 2016 | Aug. 31, 2015 | Aug. 18, 2015 | May 26, 2015
--- | --- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Ownership interest of subsidiary (as a percent) | 100.00% |  |  |  |
Senior Notes |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Debt face amount |  |  | $ 2,000,000,000.0 | $ 2,000,000,000.0 |
Senior Notes | 2.95% Senior Notes, due 2027 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Debt face amount |  | $ 500,000,000 |  |  |
Interest rate (as a percent) | 2.95% | 2.95% |  |  |
Senior Notes | 4.0% Senior Notes, due 2025 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Debt face amount |  |  |  |  | $ 700,000,000
Interest rate (as a percent) | 4.00% |  |  |  | 4.00%
Senior Notes | 2.5% Senior Notes, due 2018 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Debt face amount |  |  |  | $ 400,000,000 |
Interest rate (as a percent) | 2.50% |  |  | 2.50% |
Senior Notes | 3.3% Senior Notes, due 2020 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Debt face amount |  |  |  | $ 700,000,000 |
Interest rate (as a percent) | 3.30% |  |  | 3.30% |
Senior Notes | 4.4% Senior Notes, due 2026 |  |  |  |  |
Debt Instrument [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Debt face amount |  |  |  | $ 900,000,000 |
Interest rate (as a percent) | 4.40% |  |  | 4.40% |

X
- Definition Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 55 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930739&loc=d3e28878-108400 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 835 -SubTopic 30 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1)) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The parent entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=spgi_A2.95SeniorNotesdue2027Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=spgi_A4.0SeniorNotesdue2025Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=spgi_A2.5SeniorNotesdue2018Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=spgi_A3.3SeniorNotesdue2020Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=spgi_A4.4SeniorNotesdue2026Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |