Guarantor Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Net revenues	$ 12,891.4	$ 12,350.5	$ 11,988.3
Cost of goods sold	(8,982.8)	(8,722.3)	(8,533.5)
Selling and administrative expenses	(2,503.9)	(2,523.2)	(2,382.9)
Operating Income (Loss)	1,404.7	1,105.0	1,071.9
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax	0	0	0
Interest expense	(225.3)	(278.8)	(252.0)
Intercompany Interest And Fees	0	0	0
Other, net	30.0	3.4	28.1
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	1,209.4	829.6	848.0
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(293.7)	(189.0)	(56.0)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	915.7	640.6	792.0
Discontinued operations, net of tax	34.7	13.3	252.0
Net earnings	950.4	653.9	1,044.0
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(18.7)	(35.1)	(25.4)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	931.7	618.8	1,018.6
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	400.6	951.9	1,064.2
Total comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(16.5)	(38.4)	(13.0)
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	384.1	913.5	1,051.2
IR Ireland [Member]
Net revenues	0	0	0
Cost of goods sold	0	0.7	0
Selling and administrative expenses	(26.1)	(60.0)	(14.9)
Operating Income (Loss)	(26.1)	(59.3)	(14.9)
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax	985.9	696.2	1,048.8
Interest expense	0	0	0
Intercompany Interest And Fees	(18.2)	(14.1)	(10.5)
Other, net	(7.9)	(3.9)	(4.8)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	933.7	618.9	1,018.6
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0.2	(0.3)	(0.3)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	933.9	618.6	1,018.3
Discontinued operations, net of tax	(2.2)	0.2	0.3
Net earnings	931.7	618.8	1,018.6
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	931.7	618.8	1,018.6
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	384.1	913.5	1,051.2
Total comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	384.1	913.5	1,051.2
IR Limited [Member]
Net revenues	0	0	0
Cost of goods sold	0	0	0
Selling and administrative expenses	0	(0.1)	(0.3)
Operating Income (Loss)	0	(0.1)	(0.3)
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax	907.1	696.7	848.3
Interest expense	0	0	(0.1)
Intercompany Interest And Fees	(3.5)	(0.4)	0
Other, net	0	0	0
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	903.6	696.2	847.9
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(0.1)	0	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	903.5	696.2	847.9
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0
Net earnings	903.5	696.2	847.9
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	903.5	696.2	847.9
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	363.2	1,050.3	880.6
Total comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0.4	0
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	363.2	1,050.7	880.6
IR International [Member]
Net revenues	0	0	0
Cost of goods sold	0	0	0
Selling and administrative expenses	0	0	0
Operating Income (Loss)	0	0	0
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax	927.3	791.0	919.1
Interest expense	(21.6)	(15.8)	(15.8)
Intercompany Interest And Fees	(10.0)	(33.8)	(44.3)
Other, net	3.3	1.6	0.7
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	899.0	743.0	859.7
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0	0	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	899.0	743.0	859.7
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0
Net earnings	899.0	743.0	859.7
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	899.0	743.0	859.7
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	900.9	744.2	860.9
Total comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	900.9	744.2	860.9
IR Global Holding [Member]
Net revenues	0	0	0
Cost of goods sold	0	0	0
Selling and administrative expenses	(0.6)	(1.1)	(0.6)
Operating Income (Loss)	(0.6)	(1.1)	(0.6)
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax	369.2	1,008.0	1,339.9
Interest expense	(127.9)	(196.4)	(168.3)
Intercompany Interest And Fees	(2.5)	(34.0)	(48.8)
Other, net	0	0.8	(200.6)
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	238.2	777.3	921.6
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	44.6	0	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	282.8	777.3	921.6
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0
Net earnings	282.8	777.3	921.6
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	282.8	777.3	921.6
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	283.4	789.0	922.0
Total comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	283.4	789.0	922.0
IR New Jersey [Member]
Net revenues	984.6	922.1	932.7
Cost of goods sold	(619.1)	(564.9)	(613.7)
Selling and administrative expenses	(422.4)	(355.9)	(327.6)
Operating Income (Loss)	(56.9)	1.3	(8.6)
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax	472.0	152.4	198.3
Interest expense	(48.9)	(76.2)	(50.0)
Intercompany Interest And Fees	(208.4)	(13.7)	0.6
Other, net	116.5	137.4	53.9
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	274.3	201.2	194.2
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	58.5	(1.3)	(56.2)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	332.8	199.9	138.0
Discontinued operations, net of tax	37.2	(198.9)	(18.3)
Net earnings	370.0	1.0	119.7
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	370.0	1.0	119.7
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	333.6	399.6	185.4
Total comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0	0	0
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	333.6	399.6	185.4
IR Lux [Member]
Net revenues	0
Cost of goods sold	0
Selling and administrative expenses	0
Operating Income (Loss)	0
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax	50.7
Interest expense	(7.1)
Intercompany Interest And Fees	(0.6)
Other, net	0
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	43.0
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	43.0
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0
Net earnings	43.0
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	43.0
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	42.9
Total comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	0
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	42.9
Other Subsidiaries [Member]
Net revenues	11,906.8	11,428.4	11,055.6
Cost of goods sold	(8,363.7)	(8,158.1)	(7,919.8)
Selling and administrative expenses	(2,054.8)	(2,106.1)	(2,039.5)
Operating Income (Loss)	1,488.3	1,164.2	1,096.3
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax	1,271.2	743.9	979.3
Interest expense	(19.8)	9.6	(17.8)
Intercompany Interest And Fees	243.2	96.0	103.0
Other, net	(81.9)	(129.4)	1.2
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	2,901.0	1,884.3	2,162.0
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(396.9)	(187.4)	0.5
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	2,504.1	1,696.9	2,162.5
Discontinued operations, net of tax	(0.3)	212.0	270.0
Net earnings	2,503.8	1,908.9	2,432.5
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(71.5)	(38.1)	(48.7)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	2,432.3	1,870.8	2,383.8
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,916.7	1,855.2	2,386.0
Total comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	(69.3)	(41.8)	(36.3)
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	1,847.4	1,813.4	2,349.7
Consolidating Adjustments [Member]
Net revenues	0	0	0
Cost of goods sold	0	0	0
Selling and administrative expenses	0	0	0
Operating Income (Loss)	0	0	0
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax	(4,983.4)	(4,088.2)	(5,333.7)
Interest expense	0	0	0
Intercompany Interest And Fees	0	0	0
Other, net	0	(3.1)	177.7
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	(4,983.4)	(4,091.3)	(5,156.0)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0	0	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(4,983.4)	(4,091.3)	(5,156.0)
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0
Net earnings	(4,983.4)	(4,091.3)	(5,156.0)
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	52.8	3.0	23.3
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	(4,930.6)	(4,088.3)	(5,132.7)
Total comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(3,824.2)	(4,799.9)	(5,221.9)
Total comprehensive (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests	52.8	3.0	23.3
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	$ (3,771.4)	$ (4,796.9)	$ (5,198.6)