Divestitures and Discontinued Operations Divestiture Net Earnings (Loss) Schedule (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2011
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net revenues	$ 3,150.7		$ 3,273.8
Gain (loss) on sale/asset impairment	0.3		(186.3)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	95.6		(77.6)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc ordinary shareholders:	$ 0.31		$ (0.23)
Hussmann Divestiture [Member]
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net revenues			213.1
Gain (loss) on sale/asset impairment	0.3	[1]	(186.3)	[1]	(646.9)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc			$ (191.1)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc ordinary shareholders:			$ (0.56)

[1] * During the three months ended March 31, 2011, the Company recorded a pre-tax asset impairment charge related to the Hussmann divestiture totaling $186.3 million. During the three months ended March 31, 2012, the Company recorded $0.3 million of purchase price adjustments related to the Hussmann sale. These amounts have been excluded from Segment operating income within the Climate Solutions segment as management excludes these charges from Operating income when making operating decisions about the business.