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Income Taxes Worldwide Income Tax Payments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
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Dec. 31, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 | Dec. 31, 2013
Worldwide Income Tax Payments [Abstract] |  |  |
Income taxes paid | $ 302 | $ 258 | $ 272

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- Definition Worldwide Income Tax Payments [Abstract] + References No definition available. + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | etn_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition The amount of cash paid during the current period to foreign, federal, state, and local authorities as taxes on income. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6367179&loc=d3e4297-108586 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 230 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 25 -Subparagraph (f) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3536-108585 + Details
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Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration