Guarantor Financial Information (Condensed Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	$ 4,344.3			$ 4,030.9			$ 12,448.0	$ 11,773.1
Cost of goods sold	(2,935.8)			(2,718.3)			(8,547.2)	(8,102.6)
Selling and administrative expenses	(785.3)			(725.6)			(2,308.6)	(2,199.8)
Operating income	623.2			587.0			1,592.2	1,470.7
Equity earnings (loss) in subsidiaries, net of tax	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Interest expense	(64.1)			(48.5)			(179.7)	(171.7)
Intercompany interest and fees	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Other income/(expense), net	(7.2)			(8.5)			(22.6)	(16.0)
Earnings before income taxes	551.9			530.0			1,389.9	1,283.0
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	112.9			(1.1)			(279.2)	159.9
Earnings from continuing operations	439.0			531.1			1,110.7	1,123.1
Discontinued operations, net of tax	24.4			(11.7)			16.7	(27.0)
Net earnings	463.4	$ 460.3	$ 203.7	519.4	$ 452.6	$ 124.1	1,127.4	1,096.1
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4.6)			(4.3)			(12.6)	(12.5)
Net earnings attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	458.8			515.1			1,114.8	1,083.6
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	(130.6)			(15.2)			(105.7)	(141.0)
Total comprehensive income attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	328.2			499.9			1,009.1	942.6
IR Ireland [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Cost of goods sold	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Selling and administrative expenses	(8.6)			(1.2)			(10.1)	(7.4)
Operating income	8.6			(1.2)			(10.1)	(7.4)
Equity earnings (loss) in subsidiaries, net of tax	481.7			528.0			1,210.8	1,113.0
Interest expense	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Intercompany interest and fees	(30.9)			(11.9)			(91.5)	(21.4)
Other income/(expense), net	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Earnings before income taxes	459.4			514.9			1,109.2	1,084.2
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0.6			0.2			(5.6)	(0.6)
Earnings from continuing operations	458.8			515.1			1,114.8	1,083.6
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Net earnings	458.8			515.1			1,114.8	1,083.6
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Net earnings attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	458.8			515.1			1,114.8	1,083.6
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	(130.6)			(15.2)			(105.7)	(141.0)
Total comprehensive income attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	328.2			499.9			1,009.1	942.6
IR Irish Holdings [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Cost of goods sold	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Selling and administrative expenses	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Operating income	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Equity earnings (loss) in subsidiaries, net of tax	481.2			527.3			1,210.0	1,111.8
Interest expense	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Intercompany interest and fees	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Other income/(expense), net	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Earnings before income taxes	481.2			527.3			1,210.0	1,111.8
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Earnings from continuing operations	481.2			527.3			1,210.0	1,111.8
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Net earnings	481.2			527.3			1,210.0	1,111.8
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Net earnings attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	481.2			527.3			1,210.0	1,111.8
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	(130.1)			(15.2)			(105.2)	(140.6)
Total comprehensive income attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	351.1			512.1			1,104.8	971.2
IR Lux International [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Cost of goods sold	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Selling and administrative expenses	(0.1)			(0.2)			(0.5)	(0.3)
Operating income	(0.1)			(0.2)			(0.5)	(0.3)
Equity earnings (loss) in subsidiaries, net of tax	373.6			435.1			932.2	914.1
Interest expense	(0.1)			(0.1)			(0.1)	(0.1)
Intercompany interest and fees	24.1			11.6			49.2	30.0
Other income/(expense), net	0.2			0.1			59.4	(0.1)
Earnings before income taxes	397.9			446.7			1,040.4	943.8
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Earnings from continuing operations	397.9			446.7			1,040.4	943.8
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Net earnings	397.9			446.7			1,040.4	943.8
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Net earnings attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	397.9			446.7			1,040.4	943.8
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	(124.7)			12.3			(101.6)	(109.8)
Total comprehensive income attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	273.2			459.0			938.8	834.0
IR Global [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Cost of goods sold	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Selling and administrative expenses	(0.1)			(0.1)			(0.2)	(0.2)
Operating income	(0.1)			(0.1)			(0.2)	(0.2)
Equity earnings (loss) in subsidiaries, net of tax	408.1			427.4			977.4	918.4
Interest expense	(26.7)			(26.7)			(80.0)	(103.7)
Intercompany interest and fees	(81.8)			(58.8)			(214.9)	(137.1)
Other income/(expense), net	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.7
Earnings before income taxes	299.5			341.8			682.3	678.1
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(25.9)			19.6			(67.7)	55.1
Earnings from continuing operations	325.4			361.4			750.0	733.2
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Net earnings	325.4			361.4			750.0	733.2
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Net earnings attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	325.4			361.4			750.0	733.2
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	(99.0)			6.3			(81.3)	(59.7)
Total comprehensive income attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	226.4			367.7			668.7	673.5
IR New Jersey [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	320.0			345.7			973.3	1,038.4
Cost of goods sold	(236.8)			(252.0)			(734.8)	(758.0)
Selling and administrative expenses	(140.4)			(120.5)			(376.3)	(383.1)
Operating income	(57.2)			(26.8)			(137.8)	(102.7)
Equity earnings (loss) in subsidiaries, net of tax	394.2			404.8			986.9	969.5
Interest expense	(11.4)			(11.5)			(34.6)	(35.1)
Intercompany interest and fees	47.9			8.8			120.8	24.1
Other income/(expense), net	(3.0)			(3.5)			(14.2)	(11.6)
Earnings before income taxes	370.5			371.8			921.1	844.2
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	(5.2)			67.8			(33.6)	103.0
Earnings from continuing operations	375.7			439.6			954.7	947.2
Discontinued operations, net of tax	24.3			(12.2)			12.3	(29.0)
Net earnings	400.0			427.4			967.0	918.2
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Net earnings attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	400.0			427.4			967.0	918.2
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	(98.7)			6.5			(80.7)	(59.9)
Total comprehensive income attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	301.3			433.9			886.3	858.3
IR Lux Finance [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Cost of goods sold	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Selling and administrative expenses	(0.1)			(0.3)			(0.2)	(0.2)
Operating income	(0.1)			(0.3)			(0.2)	(0.2)
Equity earnings (loss) in subsidiaries, net of tax	47.3			67.5			166.1	156.1
Interest expense	(25.8)			(10.3)			(64.7)	(32.7)
Intercompany interest and fees	9.8			(3.8)			18.7	(7.4)
Other income/(expense), net	0.2			0.0			4.3	0.1
Earnings before income taxes	31.4			53.1			124.2	115.9
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Earnings from continuing operations	31.4			53.1			124.2	115.9
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Net earnings	31.4			53.1			124.2	115.9
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Net earnings attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	31.4			53.1			124.2	115.9
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	(23.2)			6.9			(17.9)	(46.4)
Total comprehensive income attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	8.2			60.0			106.3	69.5
Other Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	4,110.0			3,785.3			11,735.9	11,037.4
Cost of goods sold	(2,784.7)			(2,566.4)			(8,073.6)	(7,647.3)
Selling and administrative expenses	(653.2)			(603.3)			(1,921.3)	(1,808.6)
Operating income	672.1			615.6			1,741.0	1,581.5
Equity earnings (loss) in subsidiaries, net of tax	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Interest expense	(0.3)			(0.1)			(0.5)	(0.3)
Intercompany interest and fees	30.9			54.1			117.7	111.8
Other income/(expense), net	(4.6)			(5.1)			(72.1)	(5.1)
Earnings before income taxes	698.1			664.5			1,786.1	1,687.9
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	143.4			(86.5)			386.1	(317.4)
Earnings from continuing operations	554.7			578.0			1,400.0	1,370.5
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0.1			0.5			4.4	2.0
Net earnings	554.8			578.5			1,404.4	1,372.5
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	(4.6)			(4.3)			(12.6)	(12.5)
Net earnings attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	550.2			574.2			1,391.8	1,360.0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	(134.7)			(20.6)			(120.6)	(158.2)
Total comprehensive income attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	415.5			553.6			1,271.2	1,201.8
Consolidation, Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Financial Statements, Captions [Line Items]
Net revenues	(85.7)			(100.1)			(261.2)	(302.7)
Cost of goods sold	85.7			100.1			261.2	302.7
Selling and administrative expenses	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Operating income	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Equity earnings (loss) in subsidiaries, net of tax	(2,186.1)			(2,390.1)			(5,483.4)	(5,182.9)
Interest expense	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Intercompany interest and fees	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Other income/(expense), net	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Earnings before income taxes	(2,186.1)			(2,390.1)			(5,483.4)	(5,182.9)
Benefit (provision) for income taxes	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Earnings from continuing operations	(2,186.1)			(2,390.1)			(5,483.4)	(5,182.9)
Discontinued operations, net of tax	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Net earnings	(2,186.1)			(2,390.1)			(5,483.4)	(5,182.9)
Less: Net earnings attributable to noncontrolling interests	0.0			0.0			0.0	0.0
Net earnings attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	(2,186.1)			(2,390.1)			(5,483.4)	(5,182.9)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	610.4			3.8			507.3	574.6
Total comprehensive income attributable to Ingersoll-Rand plc	$ (1,575.7)			$ (2,386.3)			$ (4,976.1)	$ (4,608.3)