v2.4.0.6

Eaton Shareholders' Equity Eaton Shareholders' Equity (Textuals) (Details) | 0 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Feb. 27, 2013 USD ($) | Sep. 28, 2011 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2012 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2012 EUR (€) | Dec. 31, 2011 USD ($) | Dec. 31, 2010 | Mar. 22, 2013 USD ($)
Shareholders Equity Textuals Abstract |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Eaton ordinary shares authorized |  |  | 750,000,000 | 750,000,000 |  |  |
Eaton Corporation plc par value |  |  | $ 0.01 |  |  |  |
Ordinary shares issued and outstanding |  |  | 470,700,000 | 470,700,000 | 334,400,000 |  |
Deferred ordinary shares authorized |  |  | 40,000 | 40,000 |  |  |
Common shares authorized |  |  |  |  | 500,000,000 |  |
Deferred ordinary shares par value |  |  |  | € 1.00 |  |  |
Preferred A Shares issued |  |  | 10,000 | 10,000 |  |  |
Preferred A Shares par value |  |  | $ 1.00 |  |  |  |
Serial preferred shares authorized |  |  | 10,000,000 | 10,000,000 |  |  |
Serial preferred share par value per share |  |  | $ 0.01 |  |  |  |
Number of holders of record of Eaton ordinary shares |  |  | 20,570 | 20,570 |  |  |
Number of current and former employees who were shareholders through various Eaton plans |  |  | 27,852 | 27,852 |  |  |
Disclosure of Repurchase Agreements [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
2007 common share repurchase program, number of shares authorized to be repurchased |  |  | 10,000,000 | 10,000,000 |  |  |
Payments for stock repurchased under 2007 programs |  |  |  |  | $ 343,000,000 |  |
Eaton Corporation common share par value |  |  | $ 0.50 |  | $ 0.50 |  |
2011 share repurchase program, number of shares authorized to be repurchased |  | 20,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
2011 share repurchase program, maximum aggregate purchase price of shares authorized |  | 1,250,000,000 |  |  |  |  |
2011 share repurchase progam, shares purchased |  |  | 0 | 0 | 0 |  |
2007 share repurchase program, shares purchased |  |  |  |  | 8,300,000 |  |
Quarterly dividends, per share, declared | $ 0.42 |  |  |  |  |  |
Quarterly dividends payable, amount per share |  |  |  |  |  |  | $ 0.42
Earnings Per Share, Diluted, Other Disclosures [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount |  |  | 2,200,000 | 2,200,000 | 1,500,000 | 6,900,000 |
Employee Trust [Abstract] |  |  |  |  |  |  |
Deferred compensation plan trust of shares and marketable secutities |  |  | $ 12,000,000 |  | $ 6,000,000 |  |

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