v2.4.0.8

Acquisition Integration Charges and Transaction Costs (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2013 | Dec. 31, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011
Acquisition Integration Charges [Line Items] |  |  |
Business segment acquisition integration pretax charges | $ 117 | $ 33 | $ 14
Acquisition Integration Charges |  |  |
Total acquisition integration charges | 154 | 44 | 14
Transaction costs [Abstract] |  |  |
Corporate | 8 | 106 | 0
Financing fees | 1 | 72 | 0
Total business acquisition transaction cost | 9 | 178 | 0
Total acquisition integration charges and transaction costs before income taxes | 163 | 222 | 14
Total integration charges and transaction costs after income taxes | 110 | 167 | 10
Acquisition integration charges per common share - diluted | $ 0.23 | $ 0.48 | $ 0.03
Electrical Products [Member] |  |  |
Acquisition Integration Charges [Line Items] |  |  |
Business segment acquisition integration pretax charges | 44 | 4 | 1
Electrical Systems and Services [Member] |  |  |
Acquisition Integration Charges [Line Items] |  |  |
Business segment acquisition integration pretax charges | 37 | 13 | 9
Hydraulics [Member] |  |  |
Acquisition Integration Charges [Line Items] |  |  |
Business segment acquisition integration pretax charges | 36 | 16 | 4
All Segments [Member] |  |  |
Acquisition Integration Charges [Line Items] |  |  |
Business segment acquisition integration pretax charges | 117 | 33 | 14
Corporate [Member] |  |  |
Acquisition Integration Charges [Line Items] |  |  |
Corporate acquisition integration charges | $ 37 | $ 11 | $ 0

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- Definition Acquisition Integration After Tax Charges. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | etn_AcquisitionIntegrationAfterTaxCharges
Namespace Prefix: | etn_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | etn_AcquisitionIntegrationChargesAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | etn_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Details
Name: | etn_AcquisitionIntegrationChargesLineItems
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Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Acquisition Integration Charges Per Common Share - diluted + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | etn_AcquisitionIntegrationChargesPerCommonShareDiluted
Namespace Prefix: | etn_
Data Type: | num:perShareItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Acquisition Integration Pretax Charges. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | etn_AcquisitionIntegrationPretaxCharges
Namespace Prefix: | etn_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Corporate acquisition integration charges + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | etn_CorporateAcquisitionIntegrationCharges
Namespace Prefix: | etn_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Total acquistiion integration charges and transaction costs before income taxes + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | etn_TotalAcquistiionIntegrationChargesAndTransactionCostsBeforeIncomeTaxes
Namespace Prefix: | etn_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

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

X
- Details
Name: | etn_TransactionCostsAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | etn_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
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
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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

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- Definition This element represents interest incurred for borrowed money which was used to produce goods or render services. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.2) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=26872669&loc=d3e20235-122688 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 2 -Article 5 + Details
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Period Type: | duration