v3.2.0.727
Condensed Consolidating Financial Information Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2015
Jun. 30, 2014
Jun. 30, 2015
Jun. 30, 2014
Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income, Captions [Line Items]        
Net sales $ 5,372 $ 5,767 $ 10,595 $ 11,259
Cost of products sold 3,675 4,025 7,268 7,883
Selling and administrative expense 901 984 1,816 1,946
Litigation settlements 0 644 0 644
Research and development expense 158 168 316 330
Interest expense (income) - net 59 55 116 117
Other (income) expense - net (19) (166) (24) (171)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax 0 0 0 0
Intercompany expense (income) - net 0 0 0 0
Income before income taxes 598 57 1,103 510
Income tax (benefit) expense 63 (115) 101 (103)
Net income 535 172 1,002 613
Less net income for noncontrolling interests 0 (1) (1) (3)
Net income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders 535 171 1,001 610
Other comprehensive loss 230 83 (404) 86
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders 765 254 597 696
Eaton Corporation plc [Member]        
Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income, Captions [Line Items]        
Net sales 0 0 0 0
Cost of products sold 0 0 0 0
Selling and administrative expense 2 (2) 4 0
Litigation settlements   0   0
Research and development expense 0 0 0 0
Interest expense (income) - net 0 0 0 0
Other (income) expense - net 0 0 0 0
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax (619) (231) (1,164) (700)
Intercompany expense (income) - net 82 62 159 90
Income before income taxes 535 171 1,001 610
Income tax (benefit) expense 0 0 0 0
Net income 535 171 1,001 610
Less net income for noncontrolling interests 0 0 0 0
Net income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders 535 171 1,001 610
Other comprehensive loss 230 83 (404) 86
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders 765 254 597 696
Eaton Corporation [Member]        
Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income, Captions [Line Items]        
Net sales 1,806 1,750 3,508 3,417
Cost of products sold 1,433 1,378 2,743 2,720
Selling and administrative expense 368 370 745 731
Litigation settlements   644   644
Research and development expense 66 62 137 122
Interest expense (income) - net 58 55 112 114
Other (income) expense - net 11 (50) 6 (45)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax (62) (194) (273) (187)
Intercompany expense (income) - net (267) (47) (308) (117)
Income before income taxes 199 (468) 346 (565)
Income tax (benefit) expense 41 (255) 19 (269)
Net income 158 (213) 327 (296)
Less net income for noncontrolling interests 0 0 0 0
Net income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders 158 (213) 327 (296)
Other comprehensive loss 16 37 62 67
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders 174 (176) 389 (229)
Guarantors [Member]        
Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income, Captions [Line Items]        
Net sales 1,705 1,779 3,401 3,420
Cost of products sold 1,273 1,288 2,568 2,506
Selling and administrative expense 172 193 348 393
Litigation settlements   0   0
Research and development expense 49 52 94 102
Interest expense (income) - net 5 6 11 13
Other (income) expense - net (7) (95) (8) (92)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax (805) (256) (1,518) (747)
Intercompany expense (income) - net 481 146 752 278
Income before income taxes 537 445 1,154 967
Income tax (benefit) expense (38) 78 (17) 71
Net income 575 367 1,171 896
Less net income for noncontrolling interests 0 0 0 0
Net income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders 575 367 1,171 896
Other comprehensive loss 234 90 (386) 115
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders 809 457 785 1,011
Other subsidiaries [Member]        
Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income, Captions [Line Items]        
Net sales 3,248 3,354 6,364 6,645
Cost of products sold 2,322 2,473 4,599 4,865
Selling and administrative expense 359 423 719 822
Litigation settlements   0   0
Research and development expense 43 54 85 106
Interest expense (income) - net (2) (8) (7) (14)
Other (income) expense - net (23) (21) (22) (34)
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax (129) 214 (258) 259
Intercompany expense (income) - net (296) (161) (603) (251)
Income before income taxes 974 380 1,851 892
Income tax (benefit) expense 75 63 116 101
Net income 899 317 1,735 791
Less net income for noncontrolling interests (1) (1) (2) (3)
Net income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders 898 316 1,733 788
Other comprehensive loss 282 116 (464) 70
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders 1,180 432 1,269 858
Consolidating adjustments [Member]        
Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income, Captions [Line Items]        
Net sales (1,387) (1,116) (2,678) (2,223)
Cost of products sold (1,353) (1,114) (2,642) (2,208)
Selling and administrative expense 0 0 0 0
Litigation settlements   0   0
Research and development expense 0 0 0 0
Interest expense (income) - net (2) 2 0 4
Other (income) expense - net 0 0 0 0
Equity in earnings of subsidiaries, net of tax 1,615 467 3,213 1,375
Intercompany expense (income) - net 0 0 0 0
Income before income taxes (1,647) (471) (3,249) (1,394)
Income tax (benefit) expense (15) (1) (17) (6)
Net income (1,632) (470) (3,232) (1,388)
Less net income for noncontrolling interests 1 0 1 0
Net income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders (1,631) (470) (3,231) (1,388)
Other comprehensive loss (532) (243) 788 (252)
Total comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders $ (2,163) $ (713) $ (2,443) $ (1,640)