Share-Based Compensation (Narrative) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Share based compensation expense	$ 19.6	$ 12.2	$ 42.6	$ 20.8
Share based compensation expense, net of tax	12.1	7.5	26.3	12.8
Percentage Of Awards Applied To Performance Condition			50.00%
Percentage of Awards Applied to Market Condition			50.00%
Number Of Shares To Companys Maximum Award Level For Eligible Employees (in millions)	0.5		0.5
Stock options and Restricted Stock Units (RSUs) [Member]
Vesting period, in years			3 years
Stock Options [Member]
Share based compensation expense	5.3	4.2	13.2	(2.5)
Immaterial Error Correction [Member] \| Stock Options [Member]
Share based compensation expense				13.5
Share based compensation expense, net of tax				$ 8.3

Number Of Shares To Companys Maximum Award Level For Eligible Employees

No definition available.

Name:	ir_NumberOfSharesToCompanysMaximumAwardLevelForEligibleEmployees
Namespace Prefix:	ir_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of performance share awards upon which the market condition was applied as laid out in the 2012 revisions to the company's incentive compensation agreement

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ir_PercentageOfAwardsAppliedToMarketCondition
Namespace Prefix:	ir_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of performance share awards upon which the performance condition was applied as laid out in the 2012 revisions to the company's incentive compensation agreement

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	ir_PercentageOfAwardsAppliedToPerformanceCondition
Namespace Prefix:	ir_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5047-113901

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SAB TOPIC 14.F)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=27013229&loc=d3e301413-122809

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (h)(1)(i)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)

-Number Topic 14

-Section F

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of expense, net of income tax, recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpenseNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration