v2.4.0.6

Retirement Benefits Plans Retirement Benefits Plans - Defined Contribution Plans (Details 13) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended |  |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 05, 2012 | Dec. 04, 2012
Defined Contribution Plans [Line Items] |  |  |  |  |
Employer contributions to defined contribution plans | $ 74 | $ 65 | $ 33 |  |
Eaton common shares purchased by Cooper Retirement Savings and Stock Ownership Plan Trust |  |  |  | 3.2 |
Purchase price of Eaton shares acquired by Cooper Retirement Savings and Stock Ownership Plant Trust |  |  |  | $ 166 |
Per share value of Eaton shares purchased by Cooper Retirement Savings and Stock Ownership Plan Trust |  |  |  |  | $ 51.26

X
- Definition Defined Contribution Plans, Employer Contributions - Amounts charged to expense + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | etn_DefinedContributionPlansEmployerContributions
Namespace Prefix: | etn_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | etn_DefinedContributionPlansLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | etn_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Eaton common shares purchased by Cooper Retirement Savings and Stock Ownership Plan Trust + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | etn_EatonCommonSharesPurchasedByCooperRetirementSavingsAndStockOwnershipPlanTrust
Namespace Prefix: | etn_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Per share value of Eaton shares purchased by Cooper Retirement Savings and Stock Ownership Plan Trust + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | etn_PerShareValueOfEatonSharesPurchasedByCooperRetirementSavingsAndStockOwnershipPlanTrust
Namespace Prefix: | etn_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Purchase price of Eaton shares acquired by Cooper Retirement Savings and Stock Ownership Plant Trust + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | etn_PurchasePriceOfEatonSharesAcquiredByCooperRetirementSavingsAndStockOwnershipPlantTrust
Namespace Prefix: | etn_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant