v2.4.0.8
Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Nov. 20, 2012
Nov. 14, 2012
Dec. 31, 2011
Dec. 31, 2010
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Line Items]            
Cash $ 915 $ 577     $ 385 $ 333
Short-term investments 794 527        
Accounts receivable - net 3,648 3,474        
Intercompany accounts receivable 0 0        
Inventory 2,382 2,336        
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 992 986        
Total current assets 8,731 7,900        
Property, plant and equipment - net 3,833 3,786     2,602  
Goodwill 14,495 14,443     5,537  
Other intangible assets 7,186 7,580     2,192  
Deferred income taxes 240 353        
Investment in subsidiaries 0 0        
Intercompany loans receivable 0 0        
Other assets 1,006 1,748        
Total assets 35,491 35,810     17,873  
Short-term debt 13 757        
Current portion of long-term debt 567 314        
Accounts payable 1,960 1,879        
Intercompany accounts payable 0 0        
Accrued compensation 461 462        
Other current liabilities 1,913 2,103        
Total current liabilities 4,914 5,515        
Long-term debt 8,969 9,765        
Pension liabilities 1,465 2,003        
Other postretirement benefits liabilities 668 742        
Deferred income taxes 1,313 1,548        
Intercompany loans payable 0 0        
Other noncurrent liabilities 1,299 1,059        
Total noncurrent liabilities 13,714 15,117        
Eaton shareholders' equity 16,791 15,113        
Noncontrolling interests 72 65        
Total equity 16,863 15,178     7,492 7,403
Total liabilities and equity 35,491 35,810        
Issuance of senior notes     4,900 4,900    
Eaton and certain other of Eaton's principal 100% owned subsidiaries full and unconditional guarantee of the Senior Notes, on a joint and several basis     100.00%      
Eaton Corporation plc [Member]
            
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Line Items]            
Cash 3 7        
Short-term investments 0 0        
Accounts receivable - net 0 0        
Intercompany accounts receivable 5 38        
Inventory 0 0        
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 0 0        
Total current assets 8 45        
Property, plant and equipment - net 0 0        
Goodwill 0 0        
Other intangible assets 0 0        
Deferred income taxes 0 0        
Investment in subsidiaries 24,940 20,662        
Intercompany loans receivable 0 0        
Other assets 0 0        
Total assets 24,948 20,707        
Short-term debt 0 0        
Current portion of long-term debt 0 0        
Accounts payable 0 0        
Intercompany accounts payable 4 2        
Accrued compensation 0 0        
Other current liabilities 5 0        
Total current liabilities 9 2        
Long-term debt 0 0        
Pension liabilities 0 0        
Other postretirement benefits liabilities 0 0        
Deferred income taxes 0 0        
Intercompany loans payable 8,148 5,592        
Other noncurrent liabilities 0 0        
Total noncurrent liabilities 8,148 5,592        
Eaton shareholders' equity 16,791 15,113        
Noncontrolling interests 0 0        
Total equity 16,791 15,113        
Total liabilities and equity 24,948 20,707        
Eaton Corporation [Member]
            
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Line Items]            
Cash 51 54     120 33
Short-term investments 0 25        
Accounts receivable - net 473 654        
Intercompany accounts receivable 471 335        
Inventory 344 341        
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 458 391        
Total current assets 1,797 1,800        
Property, plant and equipment - net 982 934        
Goodwill 1,382 1,382        
Other intangible assets 211 231        
Deferred income taxes 839 941        
Investment in subsidiaries 8,853 7,678        
Intercompany loans receivable 8,019 7,650        
Other assets 450 459        
Total assets 22,533 21,075        
Short-term debt 0 753        
Current portion of long-term debt 552 303        
Accounts payable 440 424        
Intercompany accounts payable 3,751 2,794        
Accrued compensation 140 129        
Other current liabilities 547 523        
Total current liabilities 5,430 4,926        
Long-term debt 7,693 8,398        
Pension liabilities 546 895        
Other postretirement benefits liabilities 402 454        
Deferred income taxes 0 0        
Intercompany loans payable 2,113 1,401        
Other noncurrent liabilities 652 440        
Total noncurrent liabilities 11,406 11,588        
Eaton shareholders' equity 5,697 4,561        
Noncontrolling interests 0 0        
Total equity 5,697 4,561        
Total liabilities and equity 22,533 21,075        
Guarantors [Member]
            
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Line Items]            
Cash 10 14     3 6
Short-term investments 134 38        
Accounts receivable - net 922 393        
Intercompany accounts receivable 3,368 4,683        
Inventory 609 602        
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 175 245        
Total current assets 5,218 5,975        
Property, plant and equipment - net 761 777        
Goodwill 6,350 6,350        
Other intangible assets 3,996 4,094        
Deferred income taxes 3 0        
Investment in subsidiaries 40,776 21,912        
Intercompany loans receivable 2,518 13,262        
Other assets 186 124        
Total assets 59,808 52,494        
Short-term debt 0 0        
Current portion of long-term debt 0 8        
Accounts payable 380 344        
Intercompany accounts payable 3,288 3,099        
Accrued compensation 37 74        
Other current liabilities 400 411        
Total current liabilities 4,105 3,936        
Long-term debt 1,266 1,331        
Pension liabilities 131 232        
Other postretirement benefits liabilities 171 189        
Deferred income taxes 1,303 1,397        
Intercompany loans payable 18,207 14,857        
Other noncurrent liabilities 162 157        
Total noncurrent liabilities 21,240 18,163        
Eaton shareholders' equity 34,463 30,395        
Noncontrolling interests 0 0        
Total equity 34,463 30,395        
Total liabilities and equity 59,808 52,494        
Other Subsidiaries [Member]
            
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Line Items]            
Cash 851 502     262 294
Short-term investments 660 464        
Accounts receivable - net 2,253 2,427        
Intercompany accounts receivable 4,470 3,887        
Inventory 1,466 1,432        
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 350 341        
Total current assets 10,050 9,053        
Property, plant and equipment - net 2,090 2,075        
Goodwill 6,763 6,711        
Other intangible assets 2,979 3,255        
Deferred income taxes 145 195        
Investment in subsidiaries 8,473 6,931        
Intercompany loans receivable 18,776 14,125        
Other assets 370 1,165        
Total assets 49,646 43,510        
Short-term debt 13 4        
Current portion of long-term debt 15 3        
Accounts payable 1,140 1,111        
Intercompany accounts payable 1,271 3,048        
Accrued compensation 284 259        
Other current liabilities 965 1,173        
Total current liabilities 3,688 5,598        
Long-term debt 16 36        
Pension liabilities 788 876        
Other postretirement benefits liabilities 95 99        
Deferred income taxes 757 934        
Intercompany loans payable 845 13,187        
Other noncurrent liabilities 485 462        
Total noncurrent liabilities 2,986 15,594        
Eaton shareholders' equity 42,906 22,263        
Noncontrolling interests 66 55        
Total equity 42,972 22,318        
Total liabilities and equity 49,646 43,510        
Consolidating Adjustments [Member]
            
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Line Items]            
Cash 0 0     0 0
Short-term investments 0 0        
Accounts receivable - net 0 0        
Intercompany accounts receivable (8,314) (8,943)        
Inventory (37) (39)        
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 9 9        
Total current assets (8,342) (8,973)        
Property, plant and equipment - net 0 0        
Goodwill 0 0        
Other intangible assets 0 0        
Deferred income taxes (747) (783)        
Investment in subsidiaries (83,042) (57,183)        
Intercompany loans receivable (29,313) (35,037)        
Other assets 0 0        
Total assets (121,444) (101,976)        
Short-term debt 0 0        
Current portion of long-term debt 0 0        
Accounts payable 0 0        
Intercompany accounts payable (8,314) (8,943)        
Accrued compensation 0 0        
Other current liabilities (4) (4)        
Total current liabilities (8,318) (8,947)        
Long-term debt (6) 0        
Pension liabilities 0 0        
Other postretirement benefits liabilities 0 0        
Deferred income taxes (747) (783)        
Intercompany loans payable (29,313) (35,037)        
Other noncurrent liabilities 0 0        
Total noncurrent liabilities (30,066) (35,820)        
Eaton shareholders' equity (83,066) (57,219)        
Noncontrolling interests 6 10        
Total equity (83,060) (57,209)        
Total liabilities and equity $ (121,444) $ (101,976)