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Eaton Shareholders' Equity Eaton Shareholders' Equity - Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Equity [Abstract]      
Currency translation and related hedging instuments pre-tax $ (1,080) $ (1,014) $ (30)
Currency translation and related hedging instruments after-tax (1,078) (1,019) (28)
Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits [Abstract]      
Prior service credit (cost) arising during the year pre-tax 1 82 (6)
Prior service credit (cost) arising during the year after-tax 1 51 (4)
Net (loss) gain arising during the year pre-tax (123) (718) 456
Net (loss) gain arising during the year after-tax (89) (519) 277
Currency translation pre-tax 62 56 (5)
Currency translation after-tax 46 47 (4)
Other pre-tax 0 0 2
Other after-tax (3) (4) 16
Amortization of actuarial loss and prior service cost reclassified to earnings pre-tax 237 168 229
Amortization of actuarial loss and prior service cost reclassified to earnings after-tax 156 110 144
Total pensions and other postretirement benefits included in other comprehensive income (loss), pre-tax 177 (412) 676
Total pensions and other postretirement benefits included in other comprehensive income (loss), after-tax 111 (315) 429
Other Accumulated Comprehensive Income (Loss) Cash Flow Hedges      
(Loss) gain on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges pre-tax 20 (3) 6
(Loss) gain on derivatives designated as cash flow hedges after-tax 13 (2) 3
Changes in cash flow hedges reclassified to earnings pre-tax (16) (5) 0
Changes in cash flow hedges reclassified to earnings after-tax (10) (3) 0
Cash flow hedges, net of reclassification adjustments pre-tax 4 (8) 6
Cash flow hedges, net of reclassification adjustments after-tax 3 (5) 3
Other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders pre-tax (899) (1,434) 652
Other comprehensive (loss) income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders after-tax $ (964) $ (1,339) $ 404