v3.3.1.900
Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements Consolidating Statements of Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]      
Net sales $ 20,855 $ 22,552 $ 22,046
Cost of products sold 14,292 15,646 15,369
Selling and administrative expense 3,596 3,810 3,886
Litigation settlements 0 644 0
Research and development expense 625 647 644
Interest expense (income) - net 232 227 271
Other expense (income) - net (35) (183) (8)
Equity in (earnings) loss of subsidiaries, net of tax 0 0 0
Intercompany expense (income) - net 0 0 0
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
Other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders (964) (1,339) 404
Total comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders 1,015 454 2,265
Eaton Corporation plc [Member]      
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]      
Net sales 0 0 0
Cost of products sold 0 0 0
Selling and administrative expense 141 171 32
Litigation settlements   0  
Research and development expense 0 0 0
Interest expense (income) - net 0 0 0
Other expense (income) - net 0 0 0
Equity in (earnings) loss of subsidiaries, net of tax (2,456) (2,191) (2,147)
Intercompany expense (income) - net 336 227 254
Income before income taxes 1,979 1,793 1,861
Income tax (benefit) expense 0 0 0
Net income 1,979 1,793 1,861
Less net income for noncontrolling interests 0 0 0
Net income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders 1,979 1,793 1,861
Other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders (964) (1,339) 404
Total comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders 1,015 454 2,265
Eaton Corporation [Member]      
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]      
Net sales 6,925 6,990 6,695
Cost of products sold 5,508 5,519 5,227
Selling and administrative expense 1,223 1,246 1,400
Litigation settlements   644  
Research and development expense 266 240 255
Interest expense (income) - net 222 225 271
Other expense (income) - net 27 (17) 8
Equity in (earnings) loss of subsidiaries, net of tax (793) (663) (657)
Intercompany expense (income) - net (452) (263) (155)
Income before income taxes 924 59 346
Income tax (benefit) expense 103 (100) (108)
Net income 821 159 454
Less net income for noncontrolling interests 0 0 0
Net income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders 821 159 454
Other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders 1 (197) 221
Total comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders 822 (38) 675
Guarantors [Member]      
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]      
Net sales 6,654 6,885 6,421
Cost of products sold 5,033 5,075 4,784
Selling and administrative expense 737 743 749
Litigation settlements   0  
Research and development expense 196 202 200
Interest expense (income) - net 21 25 28
Other expense (income) - net 2 (81) 4
Equity in (earnings) loss of subsidiaries, net of tax (3,267) (2,654) (2,005)
Intercompany expense (income) - net 1,239 855 (433)
Income before income taxes 2,693 2,720 3,094
Income tax (benefit) expense (73) 76 (90)
Net income 2,766 2,644 3,184
Less net income for noncontrolling interests 0 0 0
Net income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders 2,766 2,644 3,184
Other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders (947) (1,368) 475
Total comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders 1,819 1,276 3,659
Other Subsidiaries [Member]      
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]      
Net sales 12,538 13,521 13,579
Cost of products sold 8,984 9,882 10,010
Selling and administrative expense 1,495 1,650 1,705
Litigation settlements   0  
Research and development expense 163 205 189
Interest expense (income) - net (13) (29) (22)
Other expense (income) - net (64) (85) (20)
Equity in (earnings) loss of subsidiaries, net of tax (666) (292) (277)
Intercompany expense (income) - net (1,123) (819) 334
Income before income taxes 3,762 3,009 1,660
Income tax (benefit) expense 145 (11) 207
Net income 3,617 3,020 1,453
Less net income for noncontrolling interests (3) (8) (9)
Net income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders 3,614 3,012 1,444
Other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders (1,170) (1,646) 262
Total comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders 2,444 1,366 1,706
Consolidating Adjustments [Member]      
Condensed Income Statements, Captions [Line Items]      
Net sales (5,262) (4,844) (4,649)
Cost of products sold (5,233) (4,830) (4,652)
Selling and administrative expense 0 0 0
Litigation settlements   0  
Research and development expense 0 0 0
Interest expense (income) - net 2 6 (6)
Other expense (income) - net 0 0 0
Equity in (earnings) loss of subsidiaries, net of tax 7,182 5,800 5,086
Intercompany expense (income) - net 0 0 0
Income before income taxes (7,213) (5,820) (5,077)
Income tax (benefit) expense (11) (7) 2
Net income (7,202) (5,813) (5,079)
Less net income for noncontrolling interests 1 (2) (3)
Net income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders (7,201) (5,815) (5,082)
Other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders 2,116 3,211 (958)
Total comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders $ (5,085) $ (2,604) $ (6,040)