Divestitures and Discontinued Operations Divestiture Net Earnings (Loss) Schedule (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Dec. 31, 2011
Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net revenues	$ 3,592.8		$ 3,910.1		$ 10,564.7		$ 11,275.3
Gain (loss) on sale/asset impairment	0		(264.8)		4.5		(651.6)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	321.6		86.2		783.0		100.9
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc ordinary shareholders:	$ 1.03		$ 0.25		$ 2.50		$ 0.29
Hussmann Divestiture [Member]
Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Net revenues			281.8				781.7
Gain (loss) on sale/asset impairment	0	[1]	(264.8)	[1]	4.5	[1]	(651.6)	[1]	(646.9)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc			$ (157.9)				$ (528.3)
Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc ordinary shareholders:			$ (0.46)				$ (1.52)

[1] During the three and nine months ended September 30, 2011, the Company recorded a pre-tax loss on sale/asset impairment charge related to the Hussmann divestiture totaling $264.8 million and $651.6 million, respectively. During the nine months ended September 30, 2012, the Company recorded $4.5 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.