Subsequent Events	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2020
Subsequent Events [Abstract]
Subsequent Events	SUBSEQUENT EVENTSEffective January 1, 2021, Linde deconsolidated a joint venture with operations in Taiwan, due to the expiration of certain contractual rights that the parties mutually agreed not to renew. The joint venture contributed sales of approximately $600 million in 2020. From the effective date, the joint venture will be reflected as an equity investment on Linde's consolidated balance sheet with the corresponding results reflected in income from equity investments on the consolidated statement of income. The deconsolidation will not have an impact on earnings per share as the ownership percent remains the same.

The entire disclosure for significant events or transactions that occurred after the balance sheet date through the date the financial statements were issued or the date the financial statements were available to be issued. Examples include: the sale of a capital stock issue, purchase of a business, settlement of litigation, catastrophic loss, significant foreign exchange rate changes, loans to insiders or affiliates, and transactions not in the ordinary course of business.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 855
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/topic&trid=2122774

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 855
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6842918&loc=SL6314017-165662

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