Guarantor Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Net revenues	$ 3,749.5	$ 3,592.8	$ 10,794.5	$ 10,564.7
Cost of goods sold	(2,504.7)	(2,454.4)	(7,375.5)	(7,347.7)
Selling and administrative expenses	(756.8)	(690.6)	(2,254.6)	(2,083.8)
Gain (loss) on sale/asset impairment	(111.4)	0	(111.4)	4.5
Operating income (loss)	376.6	447.8	1,053.0	1,137.7
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Interest expense	(103.4)	(60.6)	(226.8)	(192.1)
Intercompany interest and fees	0	0	0	0
Other, net	6.0	17.4	(2.7)	21.2
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	279.2	404.6	823.5	966.8
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(95.8)	(65.3)	(219.2)	(157.9)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	183.4	339.3	604.3	808.9
Discontinued operations, net of tax	(2.5)	(12.3)	(4.2)	(6.7)
Net earnings (loss)	180.9	327.0	600.1	802.2
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(15.0)	(5.4)	(29.0)	(19.2)
Net earnings attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	165.9	321.6	571.1	783.0
Total comprehensive income (loss)	311.6	485.7	645.2	912.5
Less: Total comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(20.1)	6.1	(26.2)	(7.6)
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	291.5	491.8	619.0	904.9
IR Ireland [Member]
Net revenues	0	0	0	0
Cost of goods sold	0	0	0	0
Selling and administrative expenses	(10.7)	(3.9)	(19.0)	(9.3)
Gain (loss) on sale/asset impairment	0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)	(10.7)	(3.9)	(19.0)	(9.3)
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax	177.7	329.7	595.2	800.0
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Intercompany interest and fees	(3.6)	(2.3)	(9.9)	(7.2)
Other, net	0.8	(3.0)	1.3	(2.9)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	164.2	320.5	567.6	780.6
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	1.7	1.1	3.5	2.4
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	165.9	321.6	571.1	783.0
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss)	165.9	321.6	571.1	783.0
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net earnings attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	165.9	321.6	571.1	783.0
Total comprehensive income (loss)	291.5	491.8	619.0	904.9
Less: Total comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	291.5	491.8	619.0	904.9
IR Limited [Member]
Net revenues	0	0	0	0
Cost of goods sold	0	0	0	0
Selling and administrative expenses	0	0	0	(0.3)
Gain (loss) on sale/asset impairment	0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)	0	0	0	(0.3)
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax	177.8	329.7	595.3	599.4
Interest expense	0	0	0	(0.1)
Intercompany interest and fees	0	0	0	0
Other, net	0	0	0	0
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	177.8	329.7	595.3	599.0
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	177.8	329.7	595.3	599.0
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss)	177.8	329.7	595.3	599.0
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net earnings attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	177.8	329.7	595.3	599.0
Total comprehensive income (loss)	303.3	500.0	642.8	721.0
Less: Total comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	303.3	500.0	642.8	721.0
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	192.0	334.5	639.0	653.3
Interest expense	(4.0)	(3.9)	(11.9)	(11.8)
Intercompany interest and fees	(8.0)	(12.3)	(25.3)	(34.6)
Other, net	0.5	0.1	1.8	0.5
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	180.5	318.4	603.6	607.4
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	180.5	318.4	603.6	607.4
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss)	180.5	318.4	603.6	607.4
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net earnings attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	180.5	318.4	603.6	607.4
Total comprehensive income (loss)	180.9	318.7	604.6	608.3
Less: Total comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	180.9	318.7	604.6	608.3
IR Global [Member]
Net revenues	0	0	0	0
Cost of goods sold	0	0	0	0
Selling and administrative expenses	(0.2)	(0.1)	(0.7)	(0.6)
Gain (loss) on sale/asset impairment	0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)	(0.2)	(0.1)	(0.7)	(0.6)
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax	280.1	387.7	819.9	1,020.0
Interest expense	(82.9)	(39.7)	(164.3)	(128.5)
Intercompany interest and fees	(8.1)	(12.9)	(26.8)	(36.7)
Other, net	0	0	0.8	(200.7)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	188.9	335.0	628.9	653.5
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	188.9	335.0	628.9	653.5
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss)	188.9	335.0	628.9	653.5
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net earnings attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	188.9	335.0	628.9	653.5
Total comprehensive income (loss)	189.0	335.1	640.5	653.3
Less: Total comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	189.0	335.1	640.5	653.3
IR New Jersey [Member]
Net revenues	236.3	236.4	698.3	693.3
Cost of goods sold	(136.0)	(148.5)	(417.9)	(444.3)
Selling and administrative expenses	(131.1)	(82.5)	(357.0)	(242.6)
Gain (loss) on sale/asset impairment	0	0	0	0
Operating income (loss)	(30.8)	5.4	(76.6)	6.4
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax	9.1	47.0	119.3	182.7
Interest expense	(12.3)	(12.3)	(37.1)	(37.4)
Intercompany interest and fees	(1.1)	0.3	(1.8)	0.1
Other, net	27.9	29.8	25.1	31.3
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(7.2)	70.2	28.9	183.1
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(0.9)	(19.8)	34.2	(16.5)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(8.1)	50.4	63.1	166.6
Discontinued operations, net of tax	(5.8)	(22.4)	(23.2)	(0.6)
Net earnings (loss)	(13.9)	28.0	39.9	166.0
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0	0
Net earnings attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	(13.9)	28.0	39.9	166.0
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(9.4)	23.4	55.1	217.6
Less: Total comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	2.5	0
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	(9.4)	23.4	57.6	217.6
Other Subsidiaries [Member]
Net revenues	3,513.2	3,356.4	10,096.2	9,871.4
Cost of goods sold	(2,368.7)	(2,305.9)	(6,957.6)	(6,903.4)
Selling and administrative expenses	(614.8)	(604.1)	(1,877.9)	(1,831.0)
Gain (loss) on sale/asset impairment	(111.4)	0	(111.4)	4.5
Operating income (loss)	418.3	446.4	1,149.3	1,141.5
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax	166.5	346.6	643.6	773.4
Interest expense	(4.2)	(4.7)	(13.5)	(14.3)
Intercompany interest and fees	20.8	27.2	63.8	78.4
Other, net	(13.7)	(2.9)	(7.7)	9.8
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	587.7	812.6	1,835.5	1,988.8
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(96.6)	(46.6)	(256.9)	(143.8)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	491.1	766.0	1,578.6	1,845.0
Discontinued operations, net of tax	3.3	10.1	19.0	(6.1)
Net earnings (loss)	494.4	776.1	1,597.6	1,838.9
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(24.5)	(12.0)	(53.0)	(37.0)
Net earnings attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	469.9	764.1	1,544.6	1,801.9
Total comprehensive income (loss)	620.3	938.7	1,619.2	1,897.0
Less: Total comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(29.6)	(0.5)	(52.7)	(25.4)
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	590.7	938.2	1,566.5	1,871.6
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	(1,003.2)	(1,775.2)	(3,412.3)	(4,028.8)
Interest expense	0	0	0	0
Intercompany interest and fees	0	0	0	0
Other, net	(9.5)	(6.6)	(24.0)	183.2
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(1,012.7)	(1,781.8)	(3,436.3)	(3,845.6)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0	0	0	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(1,012.7)	(1,781.8)	(3,436.3)	(3,845.6)
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss)	(1,012.7)	(1,781.8)	(3,436.3)	(3,845.6)
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	9.5	6.6	24.0	17.8
Net earnings attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	(1,003.2)	(1,775.2)	(3,412.3)	(3,827.8)
Total comprehensive income (loss)	(1,264.0)	(2,122.0)	(3,536.0)	(4,089.6)
Less: Total comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	9.5	6.6	24.0	17.8
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	$ (1,254.5)	$ (2,115.4)	$ (3,512.0)	$ (4,071.8)