| Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements [Table Text Block] |
CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2014 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Eaton Corporation plc | | Eaton Corporation | | Guarantors | | Other subsidiaries | | Consolidating adjustments | | Total | Net sales | $ | — |
| | $ | 1,667 |
| | $ | 1,641 |
| | $ | 3,291 |
| | $ | (1,107 | ) | | $ | 5,492 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Cost of products sold | — |
| | 1,342 |
| | 1,218 |
| | 2,392 |
| | (1,094 | ) | | 3,858 |
| Selling and administrative expense | 2 |
| | 361 |
| | 200 |
| | 399 |
| | — |
| | 962 |
| Research and development expense | — |
| | 60 |
| | 50 |
| | 52 |
| | — |
| | 162 |
| Interest expense (income) - net | — |
| | 59 |
| | 7 |
| | (6 | ) | | 2 |
| | 62 |
| Other expense (income) - net | — |
| | 5 |
| | 3 |
| | (13 | ) | | — |
| | (5 | ) | Equity in (earnings) loss of subsidiaries, net of tax | (469 | ) | | (207 | ) | | (485 | ) | | (201 | ) | | 1,362 |
| | — |
| Intercompany expense (income) - net | 28 |
| | (71 | ) | | 120 |
| | (77 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| Income before income taxes | 439 |
| | 118 |
|
| 528 |
|
| 745 |
|
| (1,377 | ) |
| 453 |
| Income tax (benefit) expense | — |
| | (25 | ) | | (7 | ) | | 49 |
| | (5 | ) | | 12 |
| Net income | 439 |
| | 143 |
|
| 535 |
|
| 696 |
|
| (1,372 | ) |
| 441 |
| Less net income for noncontrolling interests | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (2 | ) | | — |
| | (2 | ) | Net income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders | $ | 439 |
| | $ | 143 |
|
| $ | 535 |
|
| $ | 694 |
|
| $ | (1,372 | ) |
| $ | 439 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Other comprehensive income (loss) | $ | 3 |
| | $ | 28 |
| | $ | 23 |
| | $ | (15 | ) | | $ | (36 | ) | | $ | 3 |
| Total comprehensive income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders | $ | 442 |
| | $ | 171 |
| | $ | 558 |
| | $ | 679 |
| | $ | (1,408 | ) | | $ | 442 |
|
CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Eaton Corporation plc | | Eaton Corporation | | Guarantors | | Other subsidiaries | | Consolidating adjustments | | Total | Net sales | $ | — |
| | $ | 1,588 |
| | $ | 1,573 |
| | $ | 3,273 |
| | $ | (1,124 | ) | | $ | 5,310 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Cost of products sold | — |
| | 1,239 |
| | 1,195 |
| | 2,425 |
| | (1,124 | ) | | 3,735 |
| Selling and administrative expense | 2 |
| | 341 |
| | 198 |
| | 417 |
| | — |
| | 958 |
| Research and development expense | — |
| | 58 |
| | 47 |
| | 47 |
| | — |
| | 152 |
| Interest expense (income) - net | — |
| | 74 |
| | 7 |
| | (6 | ) | | — |
| | 75 |
| Other (income) expense - net | — |
| | (5 | ) | | 8 |
| | (13 | ) | | — |
| | (10 | ) | Equity in (earnings) loss of subsidiaries, net of tax | (444 | ) | | (309 | ) | | (567 | ) | | (166 | ) | | 1,486 |
| | — |
| Intercompany expense (income) - net | 64 |
| | (102 | ) | | 176 |
| | (138 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| Income before income taxes | 378 |
| | 292 |
|
| 509 |
|
| 707 |
|
| (1,486 | ) |
| 400 |
| Income tax (benefit) expense | — |
| | (2 | ) | | (37 | ) | | 59 |
| | — |
| | 20 |
| Net income | 378 |
| | 294 |
|
| 546 |
|
| 648 |
|
| (1,486 | ) |
| 380 |
| Less net income for noncontrolling interests | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (2 | ) | | — |
| | (2 | ) | Net income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders | $ | 378 |
| | $ | 294 |
|
| $ | 546 |
|
| $ | 646 |
|
| $ | (1,486 | ) |
| $ | 378 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Other comprehensive loss | $ | (235 | ) | | $ | (22 | ) | | $ | (233 | ) | | $ | (391 | ) | | $ | 646 |
| | $ | (235 | ) | Total comprehensive income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders | $ | 143 |
| | $ | 272 |
| | $ | 313 |
| | $ | 255 |
| | $ | (840 | ) | | $ | 143 |
|
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS MARCH 31, 2014 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Eaton Corporation plc | | Eaton Corporation | | Guarantors | | Other subsidiaries | | Consolidating adjustments | | Total | Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | Current assets | | | | | | | | | | | | Cash | $ | 8 |
| | $ | 46 |
| | $ | 12 |
| | $ | 718 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 784 |
| Short-term investments | — |
| | — |
| | 35 |
| | 325 |
| | — |
| | 360 |
| Accounts receivable - net | — |
| | 506 |
| | 986 |
| | 2,397 |
| | — |
| | 3,889 |
| Intercompany accounts receivable | 10 |
| | 682 |
| | 3,508 |
| | 4,900 |
| | (9,100 | ) | | — |
| Inventory | — |
| | 368 |
| | 656 |
| | 1,558 |
| | (50 | ) | | 2,532 |
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | — |
| | 473 |
| | 156 |
| | 476 |
| | 13 |
| | 1,118 |
| Total current assets | 18 |
| | 2,075 |
|
| 5,353 |
|
| 10,374 |
| | (9,137 | ) | | 8,683 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Property, plant and equipment - net | — |
| | 966 |
| | 765 |
| | 2,075 |
| | — |
| | 3,806 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Other noncurrent assets | | | | | | | | | | | | Goodwill | — |
| | 1,382 |
| | 6,301 |
| | 6,767 |
| | — |
| | 14,450 |
| Other intangible assets | — |
| | 207 |
| | 3,949 |
| | 2,922 |
| | — |
| | 7,078 |
| Deferred income taxes | — |
| | 826 |
| | 12 |
| | 153 |
| | (734 | ) | | 257 |
| Investment in subsidiaries | 25,427 |
| | 9,057 |
| | 41,344 |
| | 8,701 |
| | (84,529 | ) | | — |
| Intercompany loans receivable | — |
| | 7,872 |
| | 2,643 |
| | 19,840 |
| | (30,355 | ) | | — |
| Other assets | — |
| | 417 |
| | 183 |
| | 388 |
| | — |
| | 988 |
| Total assets | $ | 25,445 |
| | $ | 22,802 |
| | $ | 60,550 |
| | $ | 51,220 |
| | $ | (124,755 | ) | | $ | 35,262 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Liabilities and shareholders’ equity | | | | | | | | | | | | Current liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | Short-term debt | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 8 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 8 |
| Current portion of long-term debt | — |
| | 301 |
| | 1 |
| | 14 |
| | — |
| | 316 |
| Accounts payable | — |
| | 475 |
| | 391 |
| | 1,210 |
| | — |
| | 2,076 |
| Intercompany accounts payable | 10 |
| | 3,609 |
| | 3,626 |
| | 1,855 |
| | (9,100 | ) | | — |
| Accrued compensation | — |
| | 48 |
| | 42 |
| | 244 |
| | — |
| | 334 |
| Other current liabilities | 10 |
| | 667 |
| | 381 |
| | 1,017 |
| | (4 | ) | | 2,071 |
| Total current liabilities | 20 |
| | 5,100 |
| | 4,441 |
| | 4,348 |
| | (9,104 | ) | | 4,805 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Noncurrent liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | Long-term debt | — |
| | 7,720 |
| | 1,259 |
| | 17 |
| | (5 | ) | | 8,991 |
| Pension liabilities | — |
| | 375 |
| | 79 |
| | 774 |
| | — |
| | 1,228 |
| Other postretirement benefits liabilities | — |
| | 402 |
| | 171 |
| | 93 |
| | — |
| | 666 |
| Deferred income taxes | — |
| | — |
| | 1,287 |
| | 743 |
| | (734 | ) | | 1,296 |
| Intercompany loans payable | 8,388 |
| | 2,669 |
| | 18,084 |
| | 1,214 |
| | (30,355 | ) | | — |
| Other noncurrent liabilities | — |
| | 545 |
| | 155 |
| | 465 |
| | — |
| | 1,165 |
| Total noncurrent liabilities | 8,388 |
| | 11,711 |
|
| 21,035 |
|
| 3,306 |
|
| (31,094 | ) |
| 13,346 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Shareholders’ equity | | | | | | | | | | | | Eaton shareholders' equity | 17,037 |
| | 5,991 |
| | 35,074 |
| | 43,499 |
| | (84,564 | ) | | 17,037 |
| Noncontrolling interests | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 67 |
| | 7 |
| | 74 |
| Total equity | 17,037 |
| | 5,991 |
| | 35,074 |
| | 43,566 |
| | (84,557 | ) | | 17,111 |
| Total liabilities and equity | $ | 25,445 |
| | $ | 22,802 |
|
| $ | 60,550 |
|
| $ | 51,220 |
|
| $ | (124,755 | ) |
| $ | 35,262 |
|
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING BALANCE SHEETS DECEMBER 31, 2013 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Eaton Corporation plc | | Eaton Corporation | | Guarantors | | Other subsidiaries | | Consolidating adjustments | | Total | Assets | | | | | | | | | | | | Current assets | | | | | | | | | | | | Cash | $ | 3 |
| | $ | 51 |
| | $ | 10 |
| | $ | 851 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 915 |
| Short-term investments | — |
| | — |
| | 134 |
| | 660 |
| | — |
| | 794 |
| Accounts receivable - net | — |
| | 473 |
| | 922 |
| | 2,253 |
| | — |
| | 3,648 |
| Intercompany accounts receivable | 5 |
| | 471 |
| | 3,368 |
| | 4,470 |
| | (8,314 | ) | | — |
| Inventory | — |
| | 344 |
| | 609 |
| | 1,466 |
| | (37 | ) | | 2,382 |
| Prepaid expenses and other current assets | — |
| | 458 |
| | 175 |
| | 350 |
| | 9 |
| | 992 |
| Total current assets | 8 |
| | 1,797 |
| | 5,218 |
| | 10,050 |
| | (8,342 | ) | | 8,731 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Property, plant and equipment - net | — |
| | 982 |
| | 761 |
| | 2,090 |
| | — |
| | 3,833 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Other noncurrent assets | | | | | | | | | | | | Goodwill | — |
| | 1,382 |
| | 6,350 |
| | 6,763 |
| | — |
| | 14,495 |
| Other intangible assets | — |
| | 211 |
| | 3,996 |
| | 2,979 |
| | — |
| | 7,186 |
| Deferred income taxes | — |
| | 839 |
| | 3 |
| | 145 |
| | (747 | ) | | 240 |
| Investment in subsidiaries | 24,940 |
| | 8,853 |
| | 40,776 |
| | 8,473 |
| | (83,042 | ) | | — |
| Intercompany loans receivable | — |
| | 8,019 |
| | 2,518 |
| | 18,776 |
| | (29,313 | ) | | — |
| Other assets | — |
| | 450 |
| | 186 |
| | 370 |
| | — |
| | 1,006 |
| Total assets | $ | 24,948 |
| | $ | 22,533 |
| | $ | 59,808 |
| | $ | 49,646 |
| | $ | (121,444 | ) | | $ | 35,491 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Liabilities and shareholders’ equity | | | | | | | | | | | | Current liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | Short-term debt | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 13 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 13 |
| Current portion of long-term debt | — |
| | 552 |
| | — |
| | 15 |
| | — |
| | 567 |
| Accounts payable | — |
| | 440 |
| | 380 |
| | 1,140 |
| | — |
| | 1,960 |
| Intercompany accounts payable | 4 |
| | 3,751 |
| | 3,288 |
| | 1,271 |
| | (8,314 | ) | | — |
| Accrued compensation | — |
| | 140 |
| | 37 |
| | 284 |
| | — |
| | 461 |
| Other current liabilities | 5 |
| | 547 |
| | 400 |
| | 965 |
| | (4 | ) | | 1,913 |
| Total current liabilities | 9 |
| | 5,430 |
| | 4,105 |
| | 3,688 |
| | (8,318 | ) | | 4,914 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Noncurrent liabilities | | | | | | | | | | | | Long-term debt | — |
| | 7,693 |
| | 1,266 |
| | 16 |
| | (6 | ) | | 8,969 |
| Pension liabilities | — |
| | 546 |
| | 131 |
| | 788 |
| | — |
| | 1,465 |
| Other postretirement benefits liabilities | — |
| | 402 |
| | 171 |
| | 95 |
| | — |
| | 668 |
| Deferred income taxes | — |
| | — |
| | 1,303 |
| | 757 |
| | (747 | ) | | 1,313 |
| Intercompany loans payable | 8,148 |
| | 2,113 |
| | 18,207 |
| | 845 |
| | (29,313 | ) | | — |
| Other noncurrent liabilities | — |
| | 652 |
| | 162 |
| | 485 |
| | — |
| | 1,299 |
| Total noncurrent liabilities | 8,148 |
| | 11,406 |
|
| 21,240 |
|
| 2,986 |
|
| (30,066 | ) |
| 13,714 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Shareholders’ equity | | | | | | | | | | | | Eaton shareholders' equity | 16,791 |
| | 5,697 |
| | 34,463 |
| | 42,906 |
| | (83,066 | ) | | 16,791 |
| Noncontrolling interests | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 66 |
| | 6 |
| | 72 |
| Total equity | 16,791 |
| | 5,697 |
| | 34,463 |
| | 42,972 |
| | (83,060 | ) | | 16,863 |
| Total liabilities and equity | $ | 24,948 |
| | $ | 22,533 |
|
| $ | 59,808 |
|
| $ | 49,646 |
|
| $ | (121,444 | ) |
| $ | 35,491 |
|
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2014 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Eaton Corporation plc | | Eaton Corporation | | Guarantors | | Other subsidiaries | | Consolidating adjustments | | Total | Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | $ | 17 |
| | $ | (463 | ) | | $ | 182 |
| | $ | 276 |
| | $ | — |
| | $ | 12 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Investing activities | | | | | | | | | | | | Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment | — |
| | (25 | ) | | (29 | ) | | (56 | ) | | — |
| | (110 | ) | Sales of short-term investments - net | — |
| | — |
| | 98 |
| | 333 |
| | — |
| | 431 |
| Loans to affiliates | — |
| | (7 | ) | | — |
| | (1,056 | ) | | 1,063 |
| | — |
| Repayments of loans from affiliates | — |
| | 171 |
| | — |
| | 814 |
| | (985 | ) | | — |
| Proceeds from sale of business | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 3 |
| | — |
| | 3 |
| Other - net | — |
| | (13 | ) | | (1 | ) | | (6 | ) | | — |
| | (20 | ) | Net cash provided by investing activities | — |
| | 126 |
|
| 68 |
|
| 32 |
|
| 78 |
|
| 304 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Financing activities | | | | | | | | | | | | Payments on borrowings | — |
| | (251 | ) | | — |
| | (6 | ) | | — |
| | (257 | ) | Proceeds from borrowings from affiliates | — |
| | 946 |
| | 110 |
| | 7 |
| | (1,063 | ) | | — |
| Payments on borrowings from affiliates | — |
| | (510 | ) | | (304 | ) | | (171 | ) | | 985 |
| | — |
| Other intercompany financing activities | 217 |
| | 104 |
| | (54 | ) | | (267 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| Cash dividends paid | (229 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (229 | ) | Exercise of employee stock options | — |
| | 23 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 23 |
| Excess tax benefit from equity-based compensation | — |
| | 20 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 20 |
| Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | (12 | ) | | 332 |
|
| (248 | ) |
| (437 | ) |
| (78 | ) |
| (443 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | | | Effect of currency on cash | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (4 | ) | | — |
| | (4 | ) | Total increase (decrease) in cash | 5 |
| | (5 | ) |
| 2 |
|
| (133 | ) |
| — |
|
| (131 | ) | Cash at the beginning of the period | 3 |
| | 51 |
| | 10 |
| | 851 |
| | — |
| | 915 |
| Cash at the end of the period | $ | 8 |
| | $ | 46 |
|
| $ | 12 |
|
| $ | 718 |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 784 |
|
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATING STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS FOR THE THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2013 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | Eaton Corporation plc | | Eaton Corporation | | Guarantors | | Other subsidiaries | | Consolidating adjustments | | Total | Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities | $ | 62 |
| | $ | (301 | ) | | $ | 778 |
| | $ | (439 | ) | | $ | — |
| | $ | 100 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Investing activities | | | | | | | | | | | | Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment | — |
| | (51 | ) | | (18 | ) | | (53 | ) | | — |
| | (122 | ) | Sales of short-term investments - net | — |
| | 25 |
| | 31 |
| | 76 |
| | — |
| | 132 |
| Loans to affiliates | — |
| | (36 | ) | | — |
| | (438 | ) | | 474 |
| | — |
| Repayments of loans from affiliates | — |
| | 28 |
| | 82 |
| | 303 |
| | (413 | ) | | — |
| Proceeds from sale of business | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 761 |
| | — |
| | 761 |
| Other - net | — |
| | 4 |
| | (3 | ) | | 1 |
| | — |
| | 2 |
| Net cash (used in) provided by investing activities | — |
| | (30 | ) |
| 92 |
|
| 650 |
|
| 61 |
|
| 773 |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | Financing activities | | | | | | | | | | | | Payments on borrowings | — |
| | (676 | ) | | (8 | ) | | (3 | ) | | — |
| | (687 | ) | Proceeds from borrowings from affiliates | — |
| | 437 |
| | 1 |
| | 36 |
| | (474 | ) | | — |
| Payments on borrowings from affiliates | — |
| | (131 | ) | | (171 | ) | | (111 | ) | | 413 |
| | — |
| Other intercompany financing activities | 129 |
| | 687 |
| | (692 | ) | | (124 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| Cash dividends paid | (194 | ) | | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (194 | ) | Exercise of employee stock options | — |
| | 56 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 56 |
| Excess tax benefit from equity-based compensation | — |
| | 16 |
| | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | 16 |
| Other - net | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (1 | ) | | — |
| | (1 | ) | Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities | (65 | ) | | 389 |
|
| (870 | ) |
| (203 | ) |
| (61 | ) |
| (810 | ) | | | | | | | | | | | | | Effect of currency on cash | — |
| | — |
| | — |
| | (1 | ) | | — |
| | (1 | ) | Total (decrease) increase in cash | (3 | ) | | 58 |
|
| — |
|
| 7 |
|
| — |
|
| 62 |
| Cash at the beginning of the period | 7 |
| | 54 |
| | 14 |
| | 502 |
| | — |
| | 577 |
| Cash at the end of the period | $ | 4 |
| | $ | 112 |
|
| $ | 14 |
|
| $ | 509 |
|
| $ | — |
|
| $ | 639 |
|
|