v2.4.0.6

Eaton Shareholders' Equity (Tables) | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2012
Equity [Abstract] |
Comprehensive Income (Loss) | The following table summarizes the pre-tax and after-tax amounts recognized in Comprehensive loss:
| 2012 |  | 2011 |  | 2010
| Pre-tax |  | After-tax |  | Pre-tax |  | After-tax |  | Pre-tax |  | After-tax
Currency translation and related hedging instruments | $ | 118 |  |  | $ | 109 |  |  | $ | (252 | ) |  | $ | (241 | ) |  | $ | (78 | ) |  | $ | (78 | )
Pensions and other postretirement benefits |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Prior service cost arising during the year | (1 | ) |  | (1 | ) |  | (5 | ) |  | (4 | ) |  | (2 | ) |  | (1 | )
Net loss arising during the year | (386 | ) |  | (262 | ) |  | (648 | ) |  | (417 | ) |  | (182 | ) |  | (123 | )
Currency translation | (15 | ) |  | (12 | ) |  | 5 |  |  | 4 |  |  | 5 |  |  | 5 |
Other | (2 | ) |  | 15 |  |  | — |  |  | (15 | ) |  | (4 | ) |  | 3 |
Amortization of prior service cost reclassified to earnings | 170 |  |  | 108 |  |  | 122 |  |  | 79 |  |  | 87 |  |  | 54 |
| (234 | ) |  | (152 | ) |  | (526 | ) |  | (353 | ) |  | (96 | ) |  | (62 | )
Cash flow hedges |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Gain (loss) on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges | 10 |  |  | 10 |  |  | (28 | ) |  | (21 | ) |  | 8 |  |  | 6 |
Changes in cash flow hedges reclassified to earnings | 7 |  |  | 7 |  |  | — |  |  | (1 | ) |  | (8 | ) |  | (6 | )
Cash flow hedges, net of reclassification adjustments | 17 |  |  | 17 |  |  | (28 | ) |  | (22 | ) |  | — |  |  | — |
Other comprehensive loss attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders | $ | (99 | ) |  | $ | (26 | ) |  | $ | (806 | ) |  | $ | (616 | ) |  | $ | (174 | ) |  | $ | (140 | )
Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Table Text Block] | The changes in Accumulated other comprehensive loss attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders, net of tax, as reported in the Consolidated Balance Sheets follow:
| Currency translation and related hedging instruments |  | Pensions and other postretirement benefits |  | Cash flow hedges |  | Accumulated other comprehensive loss
January 1, 2010 | $ | (183 | ) |  | $ | (1,032 | ) |  | $ | 7 |  |  | $ | (1,208 | )
Comprehensive income (loss) | (78 | ) |  | (62 | ) |  | — |  |  | (140 | )
December 31, 2010 | (261 | ) |  | (1,094 | ) |  | 7 |  |  | (1,348 | )
Comprehensive income (loss) | (241 | ) |  | (353 | ) |  | (22 | ) |  | (616 | )
December 31, 2011 | (502 | ) |  | (1,447 | ) |  | (15 | ) |  | (1,964 | )
Comprehensive income (loss) | 109 |  |  | (152 | ) |  | 17 |  |  | (26 | )
December 31, 2012 | $ | (393 | ) |  | $ | (1,599 | ) |  | $ | 2 |  |  | $ | (1,990 | )
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Table Text Block] | A summary of the calculation of net income per ordinary share attributable to ordinary shareholders follows:
(Shares in millions) | 2012 |  | 2011 |  | 2010
Net income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders | $ | 1,217 |  |  | $ | 1,350 |  |  | $ | 929 |
Weighted-average number of ordinary shares outstanding-diluted | 350.9 |  |  | 342.8 |  |  | 339.5 |
Less dilutive effect of equity-based compensation | 3.1 |  |  | 4.5 |  |  | 4.0 |
Weighted-average number of ordinary shares outstanding-basic | 347.8 |  |  | 338.3 |  |  | 335.5 |
Net income per ordinary share |  |  |  |  |
Diluted | $ | 3.46 |  |  | $ | 3.93 |  |  | $ | 2.73 |
Basic | 3.54 |  |  | 3.98 |  |  | 2.76 |

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- Definition Tabular disclosure of the components of accumulated other comprehensive income (loss). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=20435746&loc=SL7669686-108580 + Details
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- Definition Tabular disclosure of components of comprehensive income (loss) including, but not limited to: (a) foreign currency translation adjustments; (b) gains (losses) on foreign currency transactions that are designated as, and are effective as, economic hedges of a net investment in a foreign entity; (c) gains (losses) on intercompany foreign currency transactions that are of a long-term-investment nature, when the entities to the transaction are consolidated, combined, or accounted for by the equity method in the reporting enterprise's financial statements; (d) change in the market value of a futures contract that qualifies as a hedge of an asset reported at fair value; (e) unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities and that resulting from transfers of debt securities from the held-to-maturity category to the available-for-sale category; (f) a net loss recognized as an additional pension liability not yet recognized as net periodic pension cost; and (g) the net gain (loss) and net prior service cost or credit for pension plans and other postretirement benefit plans. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 1 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=20435746&loc=d3e526-108580 + Details
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