Business Segment and Geographic Region Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Business Segment Information
Net sales	$ 20,855	$ 22,552	$ 22,046
Segment operating profit	3,133	3,312	3,178
Litigation settlements	0	(644)	0
Amortization of intangible assets	(401)
Interest expense - net	(232)	(227)	(271)
Income before income taxes	2,145	1,761	1,884
Income tax (benefit) expense	164	(42)	11
Net income	1,981	1,803	1,873
Less net income for noncontrolling interests	(2)	(10)	(12)
Net income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders	1,979	1,793	1,861
Business segment acquisition integration pretax charges	42	129	117
Total business acquisition transaction costs	0	0	9
Entity-wide revenue, major customer, amount	0	0	0
Electrical Products [Member]
Business Segment Information
Net sales	6,976	7,254	7,026
Segment operating profit	1,156	1,184	1,090
Business segment acquisition integration pretax charges	25	66	44
Electrical Systems and Services [Member]
Business Segment Information
Net sales	5,931	6,457	6,430
Segment operating profit	776	843	889
Business segment acquisition integration pretax charges	15	51	37
Hydraulics [Member]
Business Segment Information
Net sales	2,459	2,975	2,981
Segment operating profit	246	367	355
Business segment acquisition integration pretax charges	2	12	36
Aerospace [Member]
Business Segment Information
Net sales	1,807	1,860	1,774
Segment operating profit	310	273	252
Vehicle [Member]
Business Segment Information
Net sales	3,682	4,006	3,835
Segment operating profit	645	645	592
All Segments [Member]
Business Segment Information
Business segment acquisition integration pretax charges	42	129	117
Corporate [Member]
Business Segment Information
Litigation settlements	0	(644)	0
Amortization of intangible assets	(406)	(431)	(437)
Interest expense - net	(232)	(227)	(271)
Pension and other postretirement benefits expense	(130)	(138)	(183)
Inventory step-up adjustment	0	0	(34)
Other corporate expense - net	(220)	(111)	(369)
Corporate acquisition integration charges	$ 5	$ 25	$ 37

Acquisition Integration Pretax Charges.

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Corporate acquisition integration charges

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Total business acquistion transaction cost

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Amount of gain (loss) recognized in settlement of litigation and insurance claims. Excludes claims within an insurance entity's normal claims settlement process.

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Amount of Net Income (Loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest.

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Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

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