v2.4.0.8
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information Condensed Statements of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2012
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]    
Net cash provided by operating activities $ 709 $ 371
Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment (251) (231)
Cash paid for acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired (11) (365)
Sales (purchases) of short-term investments - net 148 35
Loans to affiliates 0 0
Repayments of loans from affiliates 0 0
Proceeds from sale of business 761 3
Other - net (41) (24)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 606 (582)
Proceeds from borrowings 28 600
Payments on borrowings (977) (18)
Payments of financing Costs   0
Proceeds from borrowings from affiliates 0 0
Payments on borrowings from affiliates 0 0
Other intercompany financing activities 0 0
Cash dividends paid (397) (255)
Cash diviidends paid to affiliates 0 0
Exercise of employee stock options 78 44
Excess tax benefit from equity-based compensation 22 21
Other - net (4) (47)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (1,250) 345
Effect of currency on cash (14) 6
Total increase (decrease) in cash 51 140
Cash at the beginning of the period 577 385
Cash at the end of the period 628 525
Eaton Corporation plc [Member]
    
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]    
Net cash provided by operating activities 71  
Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment 0  
Cash paid for acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired 0  
Sales (purchases) of short-term investments - net 0  
Loans to affiliates 0  
Repayments of loans from affiliates 0  
Proceeds from sale of business 0  
Other - net 0  
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 0  
Proceeds from borrowings 0  
Payments on borrowings 0  
Proceeds from borrowings from affiliates 0  
Payments on borrowings from affiliates 0  
Other intercompany financing activities 323  
Cash dividends paid (397)  
Cash diviidends paid to affiliates 0  
Exercise of employee stock options 0  
Excess tax benefit from equity-based compensation 0  
Other - net 0  
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (74)  
Effect of currency on cash 0  
Total increase (decrease) in cash (3)  
Cash at the beginning of the period 7  
Cash at the end of the period 4  
Eaton Corporation [Member]
    
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]    
Net cash provided by operating activities 234 (111)
Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment (86) (135)
Cash paid for acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired 0 1
Sales (purchases) of short-term investments - net 25 50
Loans to affiliates (50) (173)
Repayments of loans from affiliates 28 136
Proceeds from sale of business 0 2
Other - net (18) (26)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities (101) (145)
Proceeds from borrowings 17 600
Payments on borrowings (972) (3)
Payments of financing Costs   0
Proceeds from borrowings from affiliates 1,560 4,342
Payments on borrowings from affiliates (1,688) (4,365)
Other intercompany financing activities 840 (10)
Cash dividends paid 0 (255)
Cash diviidends paid to affiliates 0 0
Exercise of employee stock options 78 44
Excess tax benefit from equity-based compensation 22 21
Other - net 0 (50)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (143) 324
Effect of currency on cash 0 0
Total increase (decrease) in cash (10) 68
Cash at the beginning of the period 54 120
Cash at the end of the period 44 188
Subsidiary Guarantors [Member]
    
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]    
Net cash provided by operating activities 557 24
Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment (34) (18)
Cash paid for acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired 0 0
Sales (purchases) of short-term investments - net 21 0
Loans to affiliates 0 0
Repayments of loans from affiliates 88 0
Proceeds from sale of business 0 0
Other - net (13) (6)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 62 (24)
Proceeds from borrowings 0 0
Payments on borrowings (1) (13)
Payments of financing Costs   0
Proceeds from borrowings from affiliates 352 0
Payments on borrowings from affiliates (188) 0
Other intercompany financing activities (789) 11
Cash dividends paid 0 0
Cash diviidends paid to affiliates 0 0
Exercise of employee stock options 0 0
Excess tax benefit from equity-based compensation 0 0
Other - net 0 0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (626) (2)
Effect of currency on cash 0 0
Total increase (decrease) in cash (7) (2)
Cash at the beginning of the period 14 3
Cash at the end of the period 7 1
Other Subsidiaries [Member]
    
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]    
Net cash provided by operating activities (151) 458
Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment (131) (78)
Cash paid for acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired (11) (366)
Sales (purchases) of short-term investments - net 102 (15)
Loans to affiliates (1,912) (4,342)
Repayments of loans from affiliates 1,876 4,365
Proceeds from sale of business 761 1
Other - net (10) 8
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities 675 (427)
Proceeds from borrowings 11 0
Payments on borrowings (4) (2)
Payments of financing Costs   0
Proceeds from borrowings from affiliates 50 173
Payments on borrowings from affiliates (116) (136)
Other intercompany financing activities (374) (1)
Cash dividends paid 0 0
Cash diviidends paid to affiliates (2) 0
Exercise of employee stock options 0 0
Excess tax benefit from equity-based compensation 0 0
Other - net (4) 3
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities (439) 37
Effect of currency on cash (14) 6
Total increase (decrease) in cash 71 74
Cash at the beginning of the period 502 262
Cash at the end of the period 573 336
Consolidating Adjustments [Member]
    
Condensed Cash Flow Statements, Captions [Line Items]    
Net cash provided by operating activities (2) 0
Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment 0 0
Cash paid for acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired 0 0
Sales (purchases) of short-term investments - net 0 0
Loans to affiliates 1,962 4,515
Repayments of loans from affiliates (1,992) (4,501)
Proceeds from sale of business 0 0
Other - net 0 0
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities (30) 14
Proceeds from borrowings 0 0
Payments on borrowings 0 0
Payments of financing Costs   0
Proceeds from borrowings from affiliates (1,962) (4,515)
Payments on borrowings from affiliates 1,992 4,501
Other intercompany financing activities 0 0
Cash dividends paid 0 0
Cash diviidends paid to affiliates 2 0
Exercise of employee stock options 0 0
Excess tax benefit from equity-based compensation 0 0
Other - net 0 0
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities 32 (14)
Effect of currency on cash 0 0
Total increase (decrease) in cash 0 0
Cash at the beginning of the period 0 0
Cash at the end of the period $ 0 $ 0