Guarantor Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Net revenues	$ 3,592.8	$ 3,910.1	$ 10,564.7	$ 11,275.3
Cost of goods sold	(2,454.4)	(2,756.2)	(7,347.7)	(7,987.7)
Selling and administrative expenses	(690.6)	(708.6)	(2,083.8)	(2,115.0)
Gain (loss) on sale/asset impairment	0	(264.8)	4.5	(651.6)
Operating income (loss)	447.8	180.5	1,137.7	521.0
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	(60.6)	(69.7)	(192.1)	(209.7)
Intercompany interest and fees	0	0	0	0
Other, net	17.4	21.3	21.2	28.6
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	404.6	132.1	966.8	339.9
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(65.3)	(28.4)	(157.9)	(169.0)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	339.3	103.7	808.9	170.9
Discontinued operations, net of tax	(12.3)	(10.2)	(6.7)	(49.7)
Net earnings (loss)	327.0	93.5	802.2	121.2
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(5.4)	(7.3)	(19.2)	(20.3)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	321.6	86.2	783.0	100.9
Total comprehensive income (loss)	485.7	(137.3)	912.5	175.4
Less: Total comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	6.1	(7.2)	(7.6)	(19.7)
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	491.8	(144.5)	904.9	155.7
IR Ireland [Member]
Net revenues	0	0	0	0
Cost of goods sold	0	0	0	0
Selling and administrative expenses	(3.9)	(2.0)	(9.3)	(6.6)
Gain (loss) on sale/asset impairment	0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)	(3.9)	(2.0)	(9.3)	(6.6)
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax	329.7	88.4	800.0	106.9
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Intercompany interest and fees	(2.3)	(0.6)	(7.2)	(0.7)
Other, net	(3.0)	0	(2.9)	0.4
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	320.5	85.8	780.6	100.0
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	1.1	0.4	2.4	0.9
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	321.6	86.2	783.0	100.9
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss)	321.6	86.2	783.0	100.9
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	321.6	86.2	783.0	100.9
Total comprehensive income (loss)	491.8	(144.5)	904.9	155.7
Less: Total comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	491.8	(144.5)	904.9	155.7
IR Limited [Member]
Net revenues	0	0	0	0
Cost of goods sold	0	0	0	0
Selling and administrative expenses	0	0	(0.3)	0
Gain (loss) on sale/asset impairment	0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)	0	0	(0.3)	0
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax	329.7	427.7	599.4	416.6
Interest expense	0	0	(0.1)	0
Intercompany interest and fees	0	0	0	0
Other, net	0	0	0	(0.1)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	329.7	427.7	599.0	416.5
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	329.7	427.7	599.0	416.5
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss)	329.7	427.7	599.0	416.5
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	329.7	427.7	599.0	416.5
Total comprehensive income (loss)	500.0	196.9	721.0	470.9
Less: Total comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	500.0	196.9	721.0	470.9
IR International [Member]
Net revenues	0	0	0	0
Cost of goods sold	0	0	0	0
Selling and administrative expenses	0	0	0	0
Gain (loss) on sale/asset impairment	0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax	334.5	490.9	653.3	557.4
Interest expense	(3.9)	(4.0)	(11.8)	(11.8)
Intercompany interest and fees	(12.3)	(32.4)	(34.6)	(95.7)
Other, net	0.1	0.4	0.5	1.4
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	318.4	454.9	607.4	451.3
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	318.4	454.9	607.4	451.3
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss)	318.4	454.9	607.4	451.3
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	318.4	454.9	607.4	451.3
Total comprehensive income (loss)	318.7	455.2	608.3	452.2
Less: Total comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	318.7	455.2	608.3	452.2
IR Global [Member]
Net revenues	0	0	0	0
Cost of goods sold	0	0	0	0
Selling and administrative expenses	(0.1)	(0.1)	(0.6)	(0.4)
Gain (loss) on sale/asset impairment	0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)	(0.1)	(0.1)	(0.6)	(0.4)
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax	387.7	189.6	1,020.0	356.1
Interest expense	(39.7)	(48.3)	(128.5)	(144.8)
Intercompany interest and fees	(12.9)	13.8	(36.7)	39.6
Other, net	0	339.8	(200.7)	310.3
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	335.0	494.8	653.5	560.8
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	335.0	494.8	653.5	560.8
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss)	335.0	494.8	653.5	560.8
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	335.0	494.8	653.5	560.8
Total comprehensive income (loss)	335.1	492.3	653.3	563.3
Less: Total comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	335.1	492.3	653.3	563.3
IR New Jersey [Member]
Net revenues	236.4	221.5	693.3	633.3
Cost of goods sold	(148.5)	(151.6)	(444.3)	(421.9)
Selling and administrative expenses	(82.5)	(72.2)	(242.6)	(201.8)
Gain (loss) on sale/asset impairment	0	3.1	0	0
Operating income (loss)	5.4	0.8	6.4	9.6
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax	47.0	28.4	182.7	122.7
Interest expense	(12.3)	(12.8)	(37.4)	(38.2)
Intercompany interest and fees	0.3	(29.5)	0.1	(91.0)
Other, net	29.8	2.7	31.3	33.7
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	70.2	(10.4)	183.1	36.8
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(19.8)	(8.0)	(16.5)	3.3
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	50.4	(18.4)	166.6	40.1
Discontinued operations, net of tax	(22.4)	(0.7)	(0.6)	(16.6)
Net earnings (loss)	28.0	(19.1)	166.0	23.5
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	28.0	(19.1)	166.0	23.5
Total comprehensive income (loss)	23.4	(13.5)	217.6	44.9
Less: Total comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	23.4	(13.5)	217.6	44.9
Other Subsidiaries [Member]
Net revenues	3,356.4	3,688.6	9,871.4	10,642.0
Cost of goods sold	(2,305.9)	(2,604.6)	(6,903.4)	(7,565.8)
Selling and administrative expenses	(604.1)	(634.3)	(1,831.0)	(1,906.2)
Gain (loss) on sale/asset impairment	0	(267.9)	4.5	(651.6)
Operating income (loss)	446.4	181.8	1,141.5	518.4
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax	346.6	435.9	773.4	475.0
Interest expense	(4.7)	(4.6)	(14.3)	(14.9)
Intercompany interest and fees	27.2	48.7	78.4	147.8
Other, net	(2.9)	25.4	9.8	14.4
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	812.6	687.2	1,988.8	1,140.7
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(46.6)	(20.8)	(143.8)	(173.2)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	766.0	666.4	1,845.0	967.5
Discontinued operations, net of tax	10.1	(9.5)	(6.1)	(33.1)
Net earnings (loss)	776.1	656.9	1,838.9	934.4
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(12.0)	(15.1)	(37.0)	(42.5)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	764.1	641.8	1,801.9	891.9
Total comprehensive income (loss)	938.7	423.4	1,897.0	963.7
Less: Total comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(0.5)	(14.4)	(25.4)	(41.9)
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	938.2	409.0	1,871.6	921.8
Consolidating Adjustments [Member]
Net revenues	0	0	0	0
Cost of goods sold	0	0	0	0
Selling and administrative expenses	0	0	0	0
Gain (loss) on sale/asset impairment	0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)	0	0	0	0
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax	(1,775.2)	(1,660.9)	(4,028.8)	(2,034.7)
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Intercompany interest and fees	0	0	0	0
Other, net	(6.6)	(347.0)	183.2	(331.5)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(1,781.8)	(2,007.9)	(3,845.6)	(2,366.2)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(1,781.8)	(2,007.9)	(3,845.6)	(2,366.2)
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss)	(1,781.8)	(2,007.9)	(3,845.6)	(2,366.2)
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	6.6	7.8	17.8	22.2
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	(1,775.2)	(2,000.1)	(3,827.8)	(2,344.0)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(2,122.0)	(1,547.1)	(4,089.6)	(2,475.3)
Less: Total comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	6.6	7.2	17.8	22.2
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	$ (2,115.4)	$ (1,539.9)	$ (4,071.8)	$ (2,453.1)