v3.3.1.900
Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Nov. 20, 2012
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Line Items]          
Cash $ 268 $ 781 $ 915 $ 577  
Short-term investments 177 245      
Accounts receivable - net 3,479 3,667      
Intercompany accounts receivable 0 0      
Inventory 2,323 2,428      
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 369 979      
Total current assets 6,616 8,100      
Property, plant and equipment - net 3,565 3,750 3,833    
Goodwill 13,479 13,893 14,495    
Other intangible assets 6,014 6,556 7,186    
Deferred income taxes 362 228      
Investment in subsidiaries 0 0      
Intercompany loans receivable 0 0      
Other assets 995 1,002      
Total assets 31,031 33,529 35,491    
Short-term debt 426 2      
Current portion of long-term debt 242 1,008      
Accounts payable 1,758 1,940      
Intercompany accounts payable 0 0      
Accrued compensation 366 420      
Other current liabilities 1,833 1,985      
Total current liabilities 4,625 5,355      
Long-term debt 7,781 8,024      
Pension liabilities 1,586 1,812      
Other postretirement benefits liabilities 440 513      
Deferred income taxes 390 901      
Intercompany loans payable 0 0      
Other noncurrent liabilities 978 1,085      
Total noncurrent liabilities 11,175 12,335      
Eaton shareholders' equity 15,186 15,786      
Noncontrolling interests 45 53      
Total equity 15,231 15,839 16,863 15,178  
Total liabilities and equity 31,031 33,529      
Eaton and certain other of Eaton's principal 100% owned subsidiaries full and unconditional guarantee of the Senior Notes, on a joint and several basis         100.00%
Eaton Corporation plc [Member]          
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Line Items]          
Cash 0 1 3 7  
Short-term investments 0 0      
Accounts receivable - net 0 0      
Intercompany accounts receivable 1 2      
Inventory 0 0      
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 0 0      
Total current assets 1 3      
Property, plant and equipment - net 0 0      
Goodwill 0 0      
Other intangible assets 0 0      
Deferred income taxes 0 0      
Investment in subsidiaries 29,627 26,612      
Intercompany loans receivable 0 0      
Other assets 0 0      
Total assets 29,628 26,615      
Short-term debt 0 0      
Current portion of long-term debt 0 0      
Accounts payable 0 0      
Intercompany accounts payable 219 117      
Accrued compensation 0 0      
Other current liabilities 1 1      
Total current liabilities 220 118      
Long-term debt 0 0      
Pension liabilities 0 0      
Other postretirement benefits liabilities 0 0      
Deferred income taxes 0 0      
Intercompany loans payable 14,222 10,711      
Other noncurrent liabilities 0 0      
Total noncurrent liabilities 14,222 10,711      
Eaton shareholders' equity 15,186 15,786      
Noncontrolling interests 0 0      
Total equity 15,186 15,786      
Total liabilities and equity 29,628 26,615      
Eaton Corporation [Member]          
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Line Items]          
Cash 26 173 51 54  
Short-term investments 0 0      
Accounts receivable - net 512 500      
Intercompany accounts receivable 842 759      
Inventory 357 397      
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 77 464      
Total current assets 1,814 2,293      
Property, plant and equipment - net 930 972      
Goodwill 1,355 1,355      
Other intangible assets 182 196      
Deferred income taxes 1,016 889      
Investment in subsidiaries 13,001 12,238      
Intercompany loans receivable 8,641 7,542      
Other assets 527 473      
Total assets 27,466 25,958      
Short-term debt 408 0      
Current portion of long-term debt 1 702      
Accounts payable 392 475      
Intercompany accounts payable 4,009 4,087      
Accrued compensation 77 112      
Other current liabilities 644 674      
Total current liabilities 5,531 6,050      
Long-term debt 7,088 7,079      
Pension liabilities 639 726      
Other postretirement benefits liabilities 245 283      
Deferred income taxes 0 0      
Intercompany loans payable 2,962 2,723      
Other noncurrent liabilities 346 457      
Total noncurrent liabilities 11,280 11,268      
Eaton shareholders' equity 10,655 8,640      
Noncontrolling interests 0 0      
Total equity 10,655 8,640      
Total liabilities and equity 27,466 25,958      
Guarantors [Member]          
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Line Items]          
Cash 7 13 10 14  
Short-term investments 2 1      
Accounts receivable - net 1,030 955      
Intercompany accounts receivable 3,888 3,822      
Inventory 651 637      
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 40 171      
Total current assets 5,618 5,599      
Property, plant and equipment - net 750 756      
Goodwill 6,264 6,263      
Other intangible assets 3,624 3,811      
Deferred income taxes 0 10      
Investment in subsidiaries 60,139 58,684      
Intercompany loans receivable 1,573 2,249      
Other assets 122 142      
Total assets 78,090 77,514      
Short-term debt 0 0      
Current portion of long-term debt 240 304      
Accounts payable 260 340      
Intercompany accounts payable 2,248 3,443      
Accrued compensation 53 59      
Other current liabilities 318 343      
Total current liabilities 3,119 4,489      
Long-term debt 675 932      
Pension liabilities 165 183      
Other postretirement benefits liabilities 118 136      
Deferred income taxes 815 1,160      
Intercompany loans payable 36,432 36,162      
Other noncurrent liabilities 200 186      
Total noncurrent liabilities 38,405 38,759      
Eaton shareholders' equity 36,566 34,266      
Noncontrolling interests 0 0      
Total equity 36,566 34,266      
Total liabilities and equity 78,090 77,514      
Other Subsidiaries [Member]          
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Line Items]          
Cash 235 594 851 502  
Short-term investments 175 244      
Accounts receivable - net 1,937 2,212      
Intercompany accounts receivable 2,928 4,101      
Inventory 1,395 1,445      
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 229 340      
Total current assets 6,899 8,936      
Property, plant and equipment - net 1,885 2,022      
Goodwill 5,860 6,275      
Other intangible assets 2,208 2,549      
Deferred income taxes 218 137      
Investment in subsidiaries 10,163 9,185      
Intercompany loans receivable 44,835 40,635      
Other assets 346 387      
Total assets 72,414 70,126      
Short-term debt 18 2      
Current portion of long-term debt 1 2      
Accounts payable 1,106 1,125      
Intercompany accounts payable 1,183 1,037      
Accrued compensation 236 249      
Other current liabilities 875 981      
Total current liabilities 3,419 3,396      
Long-term debt 17 13      
Pension liabilities 782 903      
Other postretirement benefits liabilities 77 94      
Deferred income taxes 447 549      
Intercompany loans payable 1,433 830      
Other noncurrent liabilities 432 442      
Total noncurrent liabilities 3,188 2,831      
Eaton shareholders' equity 65,770 63,854      
Noncontrolling interests 37 45      
Total equity 65,807 63,899      
Total liabilities and equity 72,414 70,126      
Consolidating Adjustments [Member]          
Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Line Items]          
Cash 0 0 $ 0 $ 0  
Short-term investments 0 0      
Accounts receivable - net 0 0      
Intercompany accounts receivable (7,659) (8,684)      
Inventory (80) (51)      
Prepaid expenses and other current assets 23 4      
Total current assets (7,716) (8,731)      
Property, plant and equipment - net 0 0      
Goodwill 0 0      
Other intangible assets 0 0      
Deferred income taxes (872) (808)      
Investment in subsidiaries (112,930) (106,719)      
Intercompany loans receivable (55,049) (50,426)      
Other assets 0 0      
Total assets (176,567) (166,684)      
Short-term debt 0 0      
Current portion of long-term debt 0 0      
Accounts payable 0 0      
Intercompany accounts payable (7,659) (8,684)      
Accrued compensation 0 0      
Other current liabilities (5) (14)      
Total current liabilities (7,664) (8,698)      
Long-term debt 1 0      
Pension liabilities 0 0      
Other postretirement benefits liabilities 0 0      
Deferred income taxes (872) (808)      
Intercompany loans payable (55,049) (50,426)      
Other noncurrent liabilities 0 0      
Total noncurrent liabilities (55,920) (51,234)      
Eaton shareholders' equity (112,991) (106,760)      
Noncontrolling interests 8 8      
Total equity (112,983) (106,752)      
Total liabilities and equity $ (176,567) $ (166,684)