v2.4.0.8
Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows [Line Items]      
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities $ 2,285 $ 1,664 $ 1,248
Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment (614) (593) (568)
Cash paid for acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired (9) (6,936) (325)
(Purchases) sales of short-term investments - net (288) 603 103
Loans to affiliates 0 0 0
Repayments of loans from affiliates 0 0 0
Proceeds from the sales of businesses 777 3 15
Other - net (68) (49) (25)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities (202) (6,972) (800)
Proceeds from borrowings 9 7,156 381
Payments on borrowings (1,096) (1,324) (78)
Payments of financing costs 0 (117) (3)
Proceeds from borrowings from affiliates 0 0 0
Payments on borrowings from affiliates 0 0 0
Other intercompany financing activities 0 0 0
Cash dividends paid (796) (512) (462)
Cash dividends paid to affiliates 0 0 0
Exercise of employee stock options 121 95 71
Issuance (repurchase) of shares 0 159 (343)
Excess tax benefit from equity-based compensation 32 21 57
Other - net (6) 2 (4)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (1,736) 5,480 (381)
Effect of currency on cash (9) 20 (15)
Total increase (decrease) in cash 338 192 52
Cash at the beginning of the period 577 385 333
Cash at the end of the period 915 577 385
Eaton Corporation plc [Member]
      
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows [Line Items]      
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 104 (35)  
Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment 0 0  
Cash paid for acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired 0 (6,542)  
(Purchases) sales of short-term investments - net 0 0  
Loans to affiliates 0 0  
Repayments of loans from affiliates 0 0  
Proceeds from the sales of businesses 0 0  
Other - net 0 0  
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities 0 (6,542)  
Proceeds from borrowings 0 0  
Payments on borrowings 0 0  
Payments of financing costs   0  
Proceeds from borrowings from affiliates 0 5  
Payments on borrowings from affiliates 0 (5)  
Other intercompany financing activities 688    
Cash dividends paid (796) 0  
Cash dividends paid to affiliates 0 0  
Exercise of employee stock options 0 0  
Issuance (repurchase) of shares   6,584  
Excess tax benefit from equity-based compensation 0 0  
Other - net 0 0  
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (108) 6,584  
Effect of currency on cash 0 0  
Total increase (decrease) in cash (4) 7  
Cash at the beginning of the period 7    
Cash at the end of the period 3 7  
Eaton Corporation [Member]
      
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows [Line Items]      
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 739 1,012 613
Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment (171) (291) (249)
Cash paid for acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired 0 0 (24)
(Purchases) sales of short-term investments - net 25 175 27
Loans to affiliates (535) (6,693) (149)
Repayments of loans from affiliates 36 268 100
Proceeds from the sales of businesses 0 2 1
Other - net (41) (28) (24)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities (686) (6,567) (318)
Proceeds from borrowings 0 7,156 379
Payments on borrowings (1,048) (1,306) (70)
Payments of financing costs   (117) (3)
Proceeds from borrowings from affiliates 2,395 8,054 5,855
Payments on borrowings from affiliates (2,921) (8,175) (5,650)
Other intercompany financing activities 1,365 273 (42)
Cash dividends paid 0 (512) (462)
Cash dividends paid to affiliates 0 0 0
Exercise of employee stock options 121 95 71
Issuance (repurchase) of shares   0 (343)
Excess tax benefit from equity-based compensation 32 21 57
Other - net 0 0 0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (56) 5,489 (208)
Effect of currency on cash 0 0 0
Total increase (decrease) in cash (3) (66) 87
Cash at the beginning of the period 54 120 33
Cash at the end of the period 51 54 120
Guarantors [Member]
      
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows [Line Items]      
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 428 217 171
Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment (119) (73) (39)
Cash paid for acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired 0 11 (2)
(Purchases) sales of short-term investments - net (95) 210 0
Loans to affiliates (545) 0 0
Repayments of loans from affiliates 626 0 0
Proceeds from the sales of businesses 0 0 14
Other - net (12) 2 (9)
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities (145) 150 (36)
Proceeds from borrowings 0 0 0
Payments on borrowings (43) (16) 0
Payments of financing costs   0 0
Proceeds from borrowings from affiliates 4,260 6,425 0
Payments on borrowings from affiliates (2,874) 0 0
Other intercompany financing activities (1,630) (340) (106)
Cash dividends paid 0 0 0
Cash dividends paid to affiliates 0 0 (32)
Exercise of employee stock options 0 0 0
Issuance (repurchase) of shares   (6,425) 0
Excess tax benefit from equity-based compensation 0 0 0
Other - net 0 0 0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (287) (356) (138)
Effect of currency on cash 0 0 0
Total increase (decrease) in cash (4) 11 (3)
Cash at the beginning of the period 14 3 6
Cash at the end of the period 10 14 3
Other Subsidiaries [Member]
      
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows [Line Items]      
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities 1,067 487 1,017
Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment (324) (229) (280)
Cash paid for acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired (9) (405) (299)
(Purchases) sales of short-term investments - net (218) 218 76
Loans to affiliates (6,215) (8,054) (5,855)
Repayments of loans from affiliates 5,795 8,175 5,650
Proceeds from the sales of businesses 777 1 0
Other - net (15) (23) 8
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities (209) (317) (700)
Proceeds from borrowings 9 0 2
Payments on borrowings (5) (2) (8)
Payments of financing costs   0 0
Proceeds from borrowings from affiliates 640 263 149
Payments on borrowings from affiliates (662) (263) (100)
Other intercompany financing activities (423) 67 148
Cash dividends paid 0 0 0
Cash dividends paid to affiliates (53) (17) (521)
Exercise of employee stock options 0 0 0
Issuance (repurchase) of shares   0 0
Excess tax benefit from equity-based compensation 0 0 0
Other - net (6) 2 (4)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (500) 50 (334)
Effect of currency on cash (9) 20 (15)
Total increase (decrease) in cash 349 240 (32)
Cash at the beginning of the period 502 262 294
Cash at the end of the period 851 502 262
Consolidating Adjustments [Member]
      
Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows [Line Items]      
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities (53) (17) (553)
Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment 0 0 0
Cash paid for acquisitions of businesses, net of cash acquired 0 0 0
(Purchases) sales of short-term investments - net 0 0 0
Loans to affiliates 7,295 14,747 6,004
Repayments of loans from affiliates (6,457) (8,443) (5,750)
Proceeds from the sales of businesses 0 0 0
Other - net 0 0 0
Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities 838 6,304 254
Proceeds from borrowings 0 0 0
Payments on borrowings 0 0 0
Payments of financing costs   0 0
Proceeds from borrowings from affiliates (7,295) (14,747) (6,004)
Payments on borrowings from affiliates 6,457 8,443 5,750
Other intercompany financing activities 0 0 0
Cash dividends paid 0 0 0
Cash dividends paid to affiliates 53 17 553
Exercise of employee stock options 0 0 0
Issuance (repurchase) of shares   0 0
Excess tax benefit from equity-based compensation 0 0 0
Other - net 0 0 0
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities (785) (6,287) 299
Effect of currency on cash 0 0 0
Total increase (decrease) in cash 0 0 0
Cash at the beginning of the period 0 0 0
Cash at the end of the period $ 0 $ 0 $ 0