v2.4.0.8
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information Condensed Balance Sheet (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Mar. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Cash $ 784 $ 915 $ 639 $ 577
Short-term investments 360 794    
Accounts receivable - net 3,889 3,648    
Intercompany accounts receivable 0 0    
Inventory 2,532 2,382    
Prepaid expenses other current assets 1,118 992    
Total current assets 8,683 8,731    
Property, plant and equipment - net 3,806 3,833    
Goodwill 14,450 14,495    
Other intangible assets 7,078 7,186    
Deferred income taxes 257 240    
Investment in subsidiaries 0 0    
Intercompany loans receivables 0 0    
Other assets 988 1,006    
Total assets 35,262 35,491    
Short-term debt 8 13    
Current portion of long-term debt 316 567    
Accounts payable 2,076 1,960    
Intercompany accounts payable 0 0    
Accrued compensation 334 461    
Other current liabilities 2,071 1,913    
Total current liabilities 4,805 4,914    
Long-term debt 8,991 8,969    
Pension liabilities 1,228 1,465    
Other postretirement benefits liabilities 666 668    
Deferred income taxes 1,296 1,313    
Intercompany loans payable 0 0    
Other noncurrent liabilities 1,165 1,299    
Total noncurrent liabilities 13,346 13,714    
Eaton shareholders' equity 17,037 16,791    
Noncontrolling interests 74 72    
Total equity 17,111 16,863    
Total liabilities and equity 35,262 35,491    
Eaton Corporation plc [Member]
        
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Cash 8 3 4 7
Short-term investments 0 0    
Accounts receivable - net 0 0    
Intercompany accounts receivable 10 5    
Inventory 0 0    
Prepaid expenses other current assets 0 0    
Total current assets 18 8    
Property, plant and equipment - net 0 0    
Goodwill 0 0    
Other intangible assets 0 0    
Deferred income taxes 0 0    
Investment in subsidiaries 25,427 24,940    
Intercompany loans receivables 0 0    
Other assets 0 0    
Total assets 25,445 24,948    
Short-term debt 0 0    
Current portion of long-term debt 0 0    
Accounts payable 0 0    
Intercompany accounts payable 10 4    
Accrued compensation 0 0    
Other current liabilities 10 5    
Total current liabilities 20 9    
Long-term debt 0 0    
Pension liabilities 0 0    
Other postretirement benefits liabilities 0 0    
Deferred income taxes 0 0    
Intercompany loans payable 8,388 8,148    
Other noncurrent liabilities 0 0    
Total noncurrent liabilities 8,388 8,148    
Eaton shareholders' equity 17,037 16,791    
Noncontrolling interests 0 0    
Total equity 17,037 16,791    
Total liabilities and equity 25,445 24,948    
Eaton Corporation [Member]
        
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Cash 46 51 112 54
Short-term investments 0 0    
Accounts receivable - net 506 473    
Intercompany accounts receivable 682 471    
Inventory 368 344    
Prepaid expenses other current assets 473 458    
Total current assets 2,075 1,797    
Property, plant and equipment - net 966 982    
Goodwill 1,382 1,382    
Other intangible assets 207 211    
Deferred income taxes 826 839    
Investment in subsidiaries 9,057 8,853    
Intercompany loans receivables 7,872 8,019    
Other assets 417 450    
Total assets 22,802 22,533    
Short-term debt 0 0    
Current portion of long-term debt 301 552    
Accounts payable 475 440    
Intercompany accounts payable 3,609 3,751    
Accrued compensation 48 140    
Other current liabilities 667 547    
Total current liabilities 5,100 5,430    
Long-term debt 7,720 7,693    
Pension liabilities 375 546    
Other postretirement benefits liabilities 402 402    
Deferred income taxes 0 0    
Intercompany loans payable 2,669 2,113    
Other noncurrent liabilities 545 652    
Total noncurrent liabilities 11,711 11,406    
Eaton shareholders' equity 5,991 5,697    
Noncontrolling interests 0 0    
Total equity 5,991 5,697    
Total liabilities and equity 22,802 22,533    
Guarantors [Member]
        
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Cash 12 10 14 14
Short-term investments 35 134    
Accounts receivable - net 986 922    
Intercompany accounts receivable 3,508 3,368    
Inventory 656 609    
Prepaid expenses other current assets 156 175    
Total current assets 5,353 5,218    
Property, plant and equipment - net 765 761    
Goodwill 6,301 6,350    
Other intangible assets 3,949 3,996    
Deferred income taxes 12 3    
Investment in subsidiaries 41,344 40,776    
Intercompany loans receivables 2,643 2,518    
Other assets 183 186    
Total assets 60,550 59,808    
Short-term debt 0 0    
Current portion of long-term debt 1 0    
Accounts payable 391 380    
Intercompany accounts payable 3,626 3,288    
Accrued compensation 42 37    
Other current liabilities 381 400    
Total current liabilities 4,441 4,105    
Long-term debt 1,259 1,266    
Pension liabilities 79 131    
Other postretirement benefits liabilities 171 171    
Deferred income taxes 1,287 1,303    
Intercompany loans payable 18,084 18,207    
Other noncurrent liabilities 155 162    
Total noncurrent liabilities 21,035 21,240    
Eaton shareholders' equity 35,074 34,463    
Noncontrolling interests 0 0    
Total equity 35,074 34,463    
Total liabilities and equity 60,550 59,808    
Other subsidiaries [Member]
        
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Cash 718 851 509 502
Short-term investments 325 660    
Accounts receivable - net 2,397 2,253    
Intercompany accounts receivable 4,900 4,470    
Inventory 1,558 1,466    
Prepaid expenses other current assets 476 350    
Total current assets 10,374 10,050    
Property, plant and equipment - net 2,075 2,090    
Goodwill 6,767 6,763    
Other intangible assets 2,922 2,979    
Deferred income taxes 153 145    
Investment in subsidiaries 8,701 8,473    
Intercompany loans receivables 19,840 18,776    
Other assets 388 370    
Total assets 51,220 49,646    
Short-term debt 8 13    
Current portion of long-term debt 14 15    
Accounts payable 1,210 1,140    
Intercompany accounts payable 1,855 1,271    
Accrued compensation 244 284    
Other current liabilities 1,017 965    
Total current liabilities 4,348 3,688    
Long-term debt 17 16    
Pension liabilities 774 788    
Other postretirement benefits liabilities 93 95    
Deferred income taxes 743 757    
Intercompany loans payable 1,214 845    
Other noncurrent liabilities 465 485    
Total noncurrent liabilities 3,306 2,986    
Eaton shareholders' equity 43,499 42,906    
Noncontrolling interests 67 66    
Total equity 43,566 42,972    
Total liabilities and equity 51,220 49,646    
Consolidating adjustments [Member]
        
Condensed Balance Sheet Statements, Captions [Line Items]        
Cash 0 0 0 0
Short-term investments 0 0    
Accounts receivable - net 0 0    
Intercompany accounts receivable (9,100) (8,314)    
Inventory (50) (37)    
Prepaid expenses other current assets 13 9    
Total current assets (9,137) (8,342)    
Property, plant and equipment - net 0 0    
Goodwill 0 0    
Other intangible assets 0 0    
Deferred income taxes (734) (747)    
Investment in subsidiaries (84,529) (83,042)    
Intercompany loans receivables (30,355) (29,313)    
Other assets 0 0    
Total assets (124,755) (121,444)    
Short-term debt 0 0    
Current portion of long-term debt 0 0    
Accounts payable 0 0    
Intercompany accounts payable (9,100) (8,314)    
Accrued compensation 0 0    
Other current liabilities (4) (4)    
Total current liabilities (9,104) (8,318)    
Long-term debt (5) (6)    
Pension liabilities 0 0    
Other postretirement benefits liabilities 0 0    
Deferred income taxes (734) (747)    
Intercompany loans payable (30,355) (29,313)    
Other noncurrent liabilities 0 0    
Total noncurrent liabilities (31,094) (30,066)    
Eaton shareholders' equity (84,564) (83,066)    
Noncontrolling interests 7 6    
Total equity (84,557) (83,060)    
Total liabilities and equity $ (124,755) $ (121,444)