v2.4.0.8

Eaton Shareholders' Equity Eaton Shareholders' Equity - Reclassifications Out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2013
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income on Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Defined Benefit Plan, Actuarial Gain (Loss) | $ (229) | [1]
Amortization of defined benefit pension reclassifications before tax | (229) |
Tax (expense) benefit on amortization of defined benefit pension items | 85 |
Net amortization of defined benefit items after tax | (144) |
Gain and losses on cash flow hedges | 0 |
Accumulated Other Comprehensve Gain Cash Flow Hedges Income Tax Expense | 0 |
Cash Flow Hedge Gain (Loss) Reclassified to Earnings, Net, After Tax | 0 |
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax | (144) |
Interest Expense [Member] |  |
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income on Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, before Tax | (1) |
Cost of Sales [Member] |  |
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income on Derivatives [Line Items] |  |
Currency exchange contracts | 2 |
Commodity contracts | $ (1) |
[1] | These components of Accumulated other comprehensive loss are included in the computation of net periodic pension cost. See Note 6 for additional information about defined benefit pension items.

X
- Definition Accumulated Other Comprehensve Gain Cash Flow Hedges Income Tax Expense + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | etn_AccumulatedOtherComprehensveGainCashFlowHedgesIncomeTaxExpense
Namespace Prefix: | etn_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amortization of defined benefit pension reclassifications before tax + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | etn_AmortizationOfDefinedBenefitPensionReclassificationsBeforeTax
Namespace Prefix: | etn_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Cash Flow Hedge Gain (Loss) Reclassified to Earnings, Net, After Tax + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | etn_CashFlowHedgeGainLossReclassifiedToEarningsNetAfterTax
Namespace Prefix: | etn_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition COMMODITY CONTRACTS + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | etn_CommodityContracts
Namespace Prefix: | etn_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Currency exchange contracts + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | etn_CurrencyExchangeContracts
Namespace Prefix: | etn_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Gain and losses on cash flow hedges + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | etn_GainAndLossesOnCashFlowHedges
Namespace Prefix: | etn_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Net amortization of defined benefit items after tax + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | etn_NetAmortizationOfDefinedBenefitItemsAfterTax
Namespace Prefix: | etn_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Tax (expense) benefit on amortization of defined benefit pension items + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | etn_TaxExpenseBenefitOnAmortizationOfDefinedBenefitPensionItems
Namespace Prefix: | etn_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of gain (loss) related to change in benefit obligation resulting from changes in actuarial assumptions, for example, but not limited to, interest, mortality, employee turnover, salary, and temporary deviation from the substantive plan. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 30 -Glossary Gain or Loss -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6514294 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 20 -Section 50 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (a)(4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28361610&loc=d3e1928-114920 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 715 -SubTopic 60 -Glossary Gain or Loss -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6749293 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanActuarialGainLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount before tax, after reclassification adjustments, of increase (decrease) in accumulated gain (loss) from derivative instruments designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges and an entity's share of an equity investee's increase (decrease) in deferred hedging gain (loss). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 220 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 10A -Subparagraph (d) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28358780&loc=SL7669646-108580 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossDerivativesQualifyingAsHedgesBeforeTax
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

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