v2.4.0.8

Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Derivatives, Fair Value [Line Items]
Debt denominated in foreign currency designated as non-derivative net investment hedging instrument	$ 101	$ 116
Percentage of intercompany balance sheet exposure	100.00%
Other current assets [Member]
Derivatives designated as hedges
Derivative asset designated as hedging instrument	6	11
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Derivative asset designated as hedging instrument	6	11
Derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments, asset, at fair value	29	24
Other long-term assets [Member]
Derivatives designated as hedges
Derivative asset designated as hedging instrument	43	85
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Derivative asset designated as hedging instrument	43	85
Other current liabilities [Member]
Derivatives designated as hedges
Derivative liability designated as hedging instrument	10	4
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Derivative liability designated as hedging instrument	10	4
Derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments, liability, at fair value	35	31
Other long-term liabilities [Member]
Derivatives designated as hedges
Derivative liability designated as hedging instrument	46	2
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Derivative liability designated as hedging instrument	46	2
Foreign currency exchange contracts (cash flow hedges) [Member]
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Period of derivatives not designated as hedges	12 months	12 months
Foreign currency exchange contracts (cash flow hedges) [Member] | Other current assets [Member]
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments, asset, at fair value	29	23
Foreign currency exchange contracts (cash flow hedges) [Member] | Other current liabilities [Member]
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments, liability, at fair value	35	31
Commodity contracts (cash flow hedges) [Member]
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Period of derivatives not designated as hedges	12 months	12 months
Commodity contracts (cash flow hedges) [Member] | Other current assets [Member]
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments, asset, at fair value	0	1
Commodity contracts (cash flow hedges) [Member] | Other current liabilities [Member]
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments, liability, at fair value	0	0
Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Fixed-to-floating interest rate swaps [Member]
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Period of derivatives designated as hedges	9 months to 21 years	6 months to 21 years
Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Fixed-to-floating interest rate swaps [Member] | Other current assets [Member]
Derivatives designated as hedges
Derivative asset designated as hedging instrument	2	2
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Derivative asset designated as hedging instrument	2	2
Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Fixed-to-floating interest rate swaps [Member] | Other long-term assets [Member]
Derivatives designated as hedges
Derivative asset designated as hedging instrument	43	85
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Derivative asset designated as hedging instrument	43	85
Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Fixed-to-floating interest rate swaps [Member] | Other current liabilities [Member]
Derivatives designated as hedges
Derivative liability designated as hedging instrument	0	0
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Derivative liability designated as hedging instrument	0	0
Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Fixed-to-floating interest rate swaps [Member] | Other long-term liabilities [Member]
Derivatives designated as hedges
Derivative liability designated as hedging instrument	46	0
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Derivative liability designated as hedging instrument	46	0
Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Floating to Fixed Interest Rate Swap [Domain]
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Period of derivatives designated as hedges	1 year
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Floating to Fixed Interest Rate Swap [Domain]
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Period of derivatives designated as hedges		1 year
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Floating to Fixed Interest Rate Swap [Domain] | Other current assets [Member]
Derivatives designated as hedges
Derivative asset designated as hedging instrument	0	0
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Derivative asset designated as hedging instrument	0	0
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Floating to Fixed Interest Rate Swap [Domain] | Other long-term assets [Member]
Derivatives designated as hedges
Derivative asset designated as hedging instrument	0	0
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Derivative asset designated as hedging instrument	0	0
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Floating to Fixed Interest Rate Swap [Domain] | Other current liabilities [Member]
Derivatives designated as hedges
Derivative liability designated as hedging instrument	1	0
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Derivative liability designated as hedging instrument	1	0
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Floating to Fixed Interest Rate Swap [Domain] | Other long-term liabilities [Member]
Derivatives designated as hedges
Derivative liability designated as hedging instrument	0	2
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Derivative liability designated as hedging instrument	0	2
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Foreign currency exchange contracts (cash flow hedges) [Member]
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Period of derivatives designated as hedges	12 to 36 months	12 to 36 months
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Foreign currency exchange contracts (cash flow hedges) [Member] | Other current assets [Member]
Derivatives designated as hedges
Derivative asset designated as hedging instrument	4	9
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Derivative asset designated as hedging instrument	4	9
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Foreign currency exchange contracts (cash flow hedges) [Member] | Other long-term assets [Member]
Derivatives designated as hedges
Derivative asset designated as hedging instrument	0	0
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Derivative asset designated as hedging instrument	0	0
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Foreign currency exchange contracts (cash flow hedges) [Member] | Other current liabilities [Member]
Derivatives designated as hedges
Derivative liability designated as hedging instrument	9	4
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Derivative liability designated as hedging instrument	9	4
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Foreign currency exchange contracts (cash flow hedges) [Member] | Other long-term liabilities [Member]
Derivatives designated as hedges
Derivative liability designated as hedging instrument	0	0
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Derivative liability designated as hedging instrument	0	0
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Commodity contracts (cash flow hedges) [Member]
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Period of derivatives designated as hedges	12 months	12 months
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Commodity contracts (cash flow hedges) [Member] | Other current assets [Member]
Derivatives designated as hedges
Derivative asset designated as hedging instrument	0	0
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Derivative asset designated as hedging instrument	0	0
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Commodity contracts (cash flow hedges) [Member] | Other long-term assets [Member]
Derivatives designated as hedges
Derivative asset designated as hedging instrument	0	0
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Derivative asset designated as hedging instrument	0	0
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Commodity contracts (cash flow hedges) [Member] | Other current liabilities [Member]
Derivatives designated as hedges
Derivative liability designated as hedging instrument	0	0
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Derivative liability designated as hedging instrument	0	0
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Commodity contracts (cash flow hedges) [Member] | Other long-term liabilities [Member]
Derivatives designated as hedges
Derivative liability designated as hedging instrument	0	0
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Derivative liability designated as hedging instrument	0	0
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Fixed-to-floating interest rate swaps [Member]
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Derivative, Notional Amount	2,390	1,290
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Floating to Fixed Interest Rate Swap [Domain]
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Derivative, Notional Amount	300	300
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Foreign currency exchange contracts (cash flow hedges) [Member]
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Derivative, Notional Amount	442	451
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Commodity contracts (cash flow hedges) [Member]
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Derivative, Notional Amount	1	17
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Foreign currency exchange contracts (cash flow hedges) [Member]
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Derivative, Notional Amount	4,165	4,997
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Commodity contracts (cash flow hedges) [Member]
Derivatives not designated as hedges
Derivative, Notional Amount	$ 2	$ 19

X

- Details

Name:	etn_DerivativesDesignatedAsHedgesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	etn_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Details

Name:	etn_DerivativesNotDesignatedAsHedgesAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	etn_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Percentage of intercompany balance sheet exposure.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	etn_PercentageOfIntercompanyBalanceSheetExposure
Namespace Prefix:	etn_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Period of derivatives designated as hedges.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	etn_PeriodOfDerivativesDesignatedAsHedges
Namespace Prefix:	etn_
Data Type:	us-types:durationStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Period of derivatives not designated as hedges.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	etn_PeriodOfDerivativesNotDesignatedAsHedges
Namespace Prefix:	etn_
Data Type:	us-types:durationStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Aggregate notional amount specified by the derivative(s). Expressed as an absolute value.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Article 12

-Section 13

-Sentence Column B

+ Details

Name:	invest_DerivativeNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	invest_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Fair value before effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial asset or other contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 20

-Section 55

-Paragraph 7

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28370219&loc=SL20226000-175313



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=20225523&loc=SL20225862-175312



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4B

-Subparagraph (a),(c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624163-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeAsset
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Fair value before effects of master netting arrangements, of a financial liability or contract with one or more underlyings, notional amount or payment provision or both, and the contract can be net settled by means outside the contract or delivery of an asset.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 20

-Section 55

-Paragraph 7

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28370219&loc=SL20226000-175313



Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=20225523&loc=SL20225862-175312



Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4B

-Subparagraph (a),(c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624163-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeFairValueOfDerivativeLiability
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Fair value as of the balance sheet date of derivative instrument not designated as hedging instrument and classified as an asset.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4B

-Subparagraph (c)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624163-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAssetAtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Definition

Fair value as of the balance sheet date of derivative instrument not designated as hedging instrument and classified as a liability.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4B

-Subparagraph (c)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7476318&loc=SL5624163-113959

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsLiabilityAtFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

X

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativesFairValueLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

X

- Definition

Fair value as of the balance sheet date of all foreign currency derivatives not designated as hedging instruments.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 815

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 5

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6945355&loc=d3e41228-113958

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ForeignCurrencyDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentsAtFairValueNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant