v2.4.0.8

Equity (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Jun. 30, 2013 | Jun. 30, 2012 | Jun. 30, 2013 | Jun. 30, 2012
Amounts reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income |  |  | $ 67 |
Net current-period other comprehensive (loss) income | (72) | (242) | (306) | (16)
Stock options excluded from calculation of diluted net income per ordinary share | 0.2 | 2.4 | 0.1 | 1.7
Eaton Shareholders' Equity [Member] |  |  |  |
Net current-period other comprehensive (loss) income |  |  | (306) |
Noncontrolling Interest [Member] |  |  |  |
Net current-period other comprehensive (loss) income |  |  | 0 |
Cash Flow Hedges [Member] |  |  |  |
Balance at December 31, 2012 |  |  | 2 |
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications |  |  | (6) |
Amounts reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income |  |  | (1) |
Net current-period other comprehensive (loss) income |  |  | (5) |
Balance at June 30, 2013 | (3) |  | (3) |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member] |  |  |  |
Balance at December 31, 2012 |  |  | (1,964) |
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications |  |  | (373) |
Amounts reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income |  |  | 67 |
Net current-period other comprehensive (loss) income |  |  | (306) |
Balance at June 30, 2013 | (2,270) |  | (2,270) |
Currency translation and related hedging instruments [Member] |  |  |  |
Balance at December 31, 2012 |  |  | (367) |
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications |  |  | (390) |
Amounts reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income |  |  | 0 |
Net current-period other comprehensive (loss) income |  |  | (390) |
Balance at June 30, 2013 | (757) |  | (757) |
Pension and other postretirement benefits [Member] |  |  |  |
Balance at December 31, 2012 |  |  | (1,599) |
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications |  |  | 23 |
Amounts reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive (loss) income |  |  | (66) |
Net current-period other comprehensive (loss) income |  |  | 89 |
Balance at June 30, 2013 | $ (1,510) |  | $ (1,510) |

X
- Definition Other comprehensive income before reclassifications + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | etn_OtherComprehensiveIncomeBeforeReclassifications
Namespace Prefix: | etn_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Accumulated change in equity from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources, net of tax effect, at period end. Excludes Net Income (Loss), and accumulated changes in equity from transactions resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners. Includes foreign currency translation items, certain pension adjustments, unrealized gains and losses on certain investments in debt and equity securities, other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses related to factors other than credit losses on available-for-sale and held-to-maturity debt securities that an entity does not intend to sell and it is not more likely than not that the entity will be required to sell before recovery of the amortized cost basis, as well as changes in the fair value of derivatives related to the effective portion of a designated cash flow hedge. + 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=28358780&loc=SL7669686-108580 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 11 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358780&loc=d3e637-108580 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 14 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358780&loc=d3e681-108580 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 31 -Article 5 Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 04 -Article 3 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) or earnings per unit (EPU) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS or EPU because to do so would increase EPS or EPU amounts or decrease loss per share or unit amounts for the period presented. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 260 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (c) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6371337&loc=d3e3550-109257 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Antidilution -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6505113 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Diluted Earnings Per Share -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6510752 Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Contingent Stock Agreement -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6508534 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_AntidilutiveSecuritiesExcludedFromComputationOfEarningsPerShareAmount
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount after tax of other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to parent entity. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 20 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7656940&loc=SL4569643-111683 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 19 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7656940&loc=SL4569616-111683 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 810 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1A -Subparagraph (c)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=18733093&loc=SL4573702-111684 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossNetOfTaxPortionAttributableToParent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount after tax of reclassification adjustments of other comprehensive income (loss). + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_ReclassificationFromAccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeCurrentPeriodNetOfTax
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration