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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