v3.3.1.900

Retirement Benefits Plans Retirement Benefits Plans - Discount Rates (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
Retirement Benefits Plans - Discount Rates [Line Items] |  |
Discount Rates for Service and Interest Costs |  | 4.00%
Scenario, Forecast [Member] |  |
Retirement Benefits Plans - Discount Rates [Line Items] |  |
Discount Rate Service Costs | 4.30% |
Discount Rate Interest Costs | 3.30% |
Service Cost Reduction | $ 3 |
Interest Cost Reduction | $ 42 |

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- Definition Discount Rate Interest Costs - Discount rate used for interest costs. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | etn_DiscountRateInterestCosts
Namespace Prefix: | etn_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Discount Rate Service Costs - Discount rate used for service costs. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | etn_DiscountRateServiceCosts
Namespace Prefix: | etn_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Discount Rates for Service and Interest Costs - Discount rate for service and interest costs. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | etn_DiscountRatesforServiceandInterestCosts
Namespace Prefix: | etn_
Data Type: | num:percentItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Interest Cost Reduction - The estimated reduction of interest costs due to change in discount rate. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | etn_InterestCostReduction
Namespace Prefix: | etn_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Definition [Line Items] for Retirement Benefits Plans - Discount Rates [Table] - Discount rates changes. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | etn_RetirementBenefitsPlansDiscountRatesLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | etn_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

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- Definition Service Cost Reduction - The estimated reduction in service costs due to change in discount rate. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | etn_ServiceCostReduction
Namespace Prefix: | etn_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

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- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=us-gaap_ScenarioForecastMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |