Guarantor Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Statement of Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Net revenues	$ 13,300.7	$ 12,891.4	$ 12,350.5
Cost of goods sold	(9,301.6)	(8,982.8)	(8,722.3)
Selling and administrative expenses	(2,541.1)	(2,503.9)	(2,523.2)
Operating Income (Loss)	1,458.0	1,404.7	1,105.0
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax	0.0	0.0	0.0
Interest expense	(223.0)	(225.3)	(278.8)
Intercompany Interest And Fees	0.0	0.0	0.0
Other, net	12.9	30.0	3.4
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	1,247.9	1,209.4	829.6
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(540.8)	(293.7)	(189.0)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	707.1	915.7	640.6
Discontinued operations, net of tax	(24.3)	34.7	13.3
Net earnings	682.8	950.4	653.9
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	271.9	400.6	951.9
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(18.2)	(18.7)	(35.1)
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	664.6	931.7	618.8
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(406.6)	(547.6)	294.7
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	258.0	384.1	913.5
Plc [Member]
Net revenues	0.0	0.0	0.0
Cost of goods sold	0.0	0.0	0.7
Selling and administrative expenses	(18.9)		(66.3)
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax		985.9
Interest expense	0.0	0.0	0.0
Intercompany Interest And Fees	(26.7)	(18.2)	(14.1)
Other, net	1.4	0.9	1.8
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	662.6		618.8
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0.0	(2.2)	0.3
Net earnings	664.6	931.7	618.8
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0.0	0.0	0.0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc			618.8
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(406.6)	(547.6)	294.7
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	258.0	384.1
International Holding [Member]
Net revenues	0.0	0.0	0.0
Cost of goods sold	0.0	0.0	0.0
Selling and administrative expenses	0.0
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax		566.5
Interest expense	0.0	(21.6)	(15.8)
Intercompany Interest And Fees	(6.4)	(10.0)	(34.3)
Other, net	0.0	3.3	1.5
Earnings (loss) before income taxes			596.2
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations		538.2
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0.0	0.0	0.0
Net earnings	645.1	538.2	596.2
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0.0	0.0	0.0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc			596.2
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(406.0)	(547.6)	294.6
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	239.1	(9.4)	890.8
IR Lux International [Member]
Net revenues	0.0	0.0	0.0
Cost of goods sold	0.0	0.0	0.0
Selling and administrative expenses	(0.1)	(0.1)	0.0
Operating Income (Loss)	(0.1)	(0.1)	0.0
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax	621.9	565.5	716.4
Interest expense	0.0	0.0	0.0
Intercompany Interest And Fees	(21.4)	(17.8)	0.0
Other, net	0.1	0.0	0.0
Earnings (loss) before income taxes	600.5	547.6	716.4
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(9.1)	0.0	0.0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	591.4	547.6	716.4
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0.0	0.0	0.0
Net earnings	591.4	547.6	716.4
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0.0	0.0	0.0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	591.4	547.6	716.4
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(402.4)	(558.1)	316.5
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	189.0	(10.5)	1,032.9
Global Holding [Member]
Net revenues	0.0	0.0	0.0
Cost of goods sold	0.0		0.0
Selling and administrative expenses	(0.1)
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax		488.6
Interest expense	(127.6)	(127.9)	(196.4)
Intercompany Interest And Fees	(28.6)	(2.5)	(34.0)
Other, net	0.0	0.0	0.6
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations		402.2
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0.0	0.0	0.0
Net earnings	177.6	402.2	(28.8)
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0.0	0.0	0.0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc			(28.8)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(83.6)	(260.9)	144.8
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	94.0	141.3	116.0
New Jersey [Member]
Net revenues	1,427.9	1,257.3	1,184.0
Cost of goods sold	(1,031.7)		(844.6)
Selling and administrative expenses	(303.5)
Operating Income (Loss)	92.7
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax		858.4
Interest expense	(48.3)	(48.9)	(49.6)
Intercompany Interest And Fees	(270.6)	(208.4)	8.5
Other, net	(9.1)	2.9	(0.1)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	636.7	719.2
Discontinued operations, net of tax	(31.4)	37.2	(172.4)
Net earnings	605.3	756.4	295.0
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0.0	0.0	0.0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc			295.0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(84.1)	(261.4)	166.2
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	521.2	495.0	461.2
Lux Finance [Member]
Net revenues	0.0	0.0	0.0
Cost of goods sold	0.0	0.0	0.0
Selling and administrative expenses		0.0	0.0
Operating Income (Loss)		0.0	0.0
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax		29.7	107.9
Interest expense	(42.8)	(7.1)	0.0
Intercompany Interest And Fees	(2.4)	(0.6)	0.0
Other, net	0.0	0.0	0.0
Earnings (loss) before income taxes		22.0	107.9
Benefit (provision) for income taxes		0.0	0.0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	30.0	22.0	107.9
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0.0	0.0	0.0
Net earnings	30.0	22.0	107.9
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0.0	0.0	0.0
Net earnings (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc		22.0	107.9
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0.0	(0.1)	0.0
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	30.0	21.9	107.9
Other [Member]
Net revenues	12,259.0	12,021.9	11,560.1
Cost of goods sold	(8,656.1)		(8,272.0)
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax		0.0	0.0
Interest expense	(4.3)	(19.8)	(17.0)
Intercompany Interest And Fees	357.2	257.5	69.4
Other, net	21.0		(0.4)
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	1,292.8	1,247.2
Discontinued operations, net of tax	7.1	(0.3)	185.4
Net earnings	1,299.9	1,246.9	1,098.7
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(18.2)	(18.7)	(35.1)
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(393.9)	(545.7)	273.2
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	887.8	682.5	1,336.8
Eliminations [Member]
Net revenues	(386.2)	(387.8)	(393.6)
Cost of goods sold	386.2		393.6
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax		(3,494.6)	(2,755.4)
Interest expense	0.0	0.0	0.0
Intercompany Interest And Fees	(1.1)	0.0	4.5
Other, net	(0.5)		0.0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	(3,331.1)	(3,494.6)
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0.0	0.0	0.0
Net earnings	(3,331.1)	(3,494.6)	(2,750.3)
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests		0.0	0.0
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1,370.0	2,173.8	(1,195.3)
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	$ (1,961.1)	(1,320.8)	(3,945.6)
Revisions [Member]
Net revenues		0.0	0.0
Cost of goods sold		0.0	0.0
Selling and administrative expenses		0.0	0.0
Operating Income (Loss)		0.0	0.0
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax		0.0	0.0
Other, net		0.0
Net earnings		0.0	0.0
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest			0.0
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc		0.0	0.0
Revisions [Member] | Plc [Member]
Net revenues		0.0	0.0
Cost of goods sold		0.0	0.0
Selling and administrative expenses		(8.8)	(6.3)
Operating Income (Loss)		(8.8)	(6.3)
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax		0.0	0.0
Other, net		8.8
Net earnings		0.0	0.0
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest			0.0
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc		0.0	0.0
Revisions [Member] | International Holding [Member]
Net revenues		0.0	0.0
Cost of goods sold		0.0	0.0
Selling and administrative expenses		0.0	0.0
Operating Income (Loss)		0.0	0.0
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax		(360.8)	(146.1)
Other, net		0.0
Net earnings		(360.8)	(146.1)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest			293.4
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc		(910.3)	147.3
Revisions [Member] | IR Lux International [Member]
Net revenues		0.0	0.0
Cost of goods sold		0.0	0.0
Selling and administrative expenses		0.0	0.0
Operating Income (Loss)		0.0	0.0
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax		0.0	0.0
Other, net		0.0
Net earnings		0.0	0.0
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest			0.0
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc		0.0	0.0
Revisions [Member] | Global Holding [Member]
Net revenues		0.0	0.0
Cost of goods sold		0.0	0.0
Selling and administrative expenses		0.0	0.0
Operating Income (Loss)		0.0	0.0
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax		119.4	(805.9)
Other, net		0.0
Net earnings		119.4	(805.9)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest			133.1
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc		(142.1)	(672.8)
Revisions [Member] | New Jersey [Member]
Net revenues		272.7	261.9
Cost of goods sold		(272.7)	(279.7)
Selling and administrative expenses		113.6	139.0
Operating Income (Loss)		113.6	121.2
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax		386.4	235.0
Other, net		(113.6)	(135.3)
Net earnings		386.4	220.9
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest			(232.4)
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc		161.4	(11.5)
Revisions [Member] | Lux Finance [Member]
Net revenues		0.0	0.0
Cost of goods sold		0.0	0.0
Operating Income (Loss)		0.0	0.0
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax		(21.0)	107.9
Other, net		0.0
Net earnings		(21.0)	107.9
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest			0.0
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc		(21.0)	107.9
Revisions [Member] | Other [Member]
Net revenues		115.1	131.7
Cost of goods sold		(115.1)	(113.9)
Selling and administrative expenses		(104.8)	(133.3)
Operating Income (Loss)		(104.8)	(115.5)
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax		(1,271.2)	(743.9)
Other, net		104.8
Net earnings		(1,271.2)	(730.4)
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest			330.6
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc		(1,301.3)	(399.8)
Revisions [Member] | Eliminations [Member]
Net revenues		(387.8)	(393.6)
Cost of goods sold		387.8	393.6
Selling and administrative expenses		0.0	0.6
Operating Income (Loss)		0.0	0.6
Equity earnings (loss) in affiliates, net of tax		1,147.2	1,353.0
Other, net		0.0
Net earnings		1,147.2	1,353.6
Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest			(524.7)
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc		$ 2,213.3	$ 828.9