v2.4.0.8

Business Segment Information Business Segment Acquisition Charges (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
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Acquistion integration charges | $ 31 | $ 8 | $ 51 | $ 11
Acquisition related transaction costs | 2 |  | 7 |
Total business acquistion transaction cost |  | 7 |  | 7
Electrical Products [Member] |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Acquistion integration charges | 12 | 0 | 15 | 0
Electrical Systems and Services [Member] |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Acquistion integration charges | 11 | 5 | 16 | 7
Hydraulics [Member] |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Acquistion integration charges | 8 | 3 | 20 | 4
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member] |  |  |  |
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items] |  |  |  |
Acquistion integration charges | 6 | 1 | 12 | 1
Acquisition related transaction costs | $ 2 | $ 7 | $ 7 | $ 7

X
- Definition Total business acquistion transaction cost + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | etn_TotalBusinessAcquistionTransactionCost
Namespace Prefix: | etn_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition This element represents acquisition-related costs incurred to effect a business combination which costs have been expensed during the period. Such costs include finder's fees; advisory, legal, accounting, valuation, and other professional or consulting fees; general administrative costs, including the costs of maintaining an internal acquisitions department; and may include costs of registering and issuing debt and equity securities. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 805 -SubTopic 10 -Section 25 -Paragraph 23 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=21917927&loc=d3e1043-128460 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessCombinationAcquisitionRelatedCosts
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Costs incurred to effect a business combination which have been expensed during the period. Such costs could include business integration costs, systems integration and conversion costs, and severance and other employee-related costs. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_BusinessCombinationIntegrationRelatedCosts
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration