v3.3.1.900
Eaton Shareholders' Equity Eaton Shareholders' Equity (Textuals) (Details)
$ / shares in Units, $ in Millions
 12 Months Ended
Feb. 24, 2016
$ / shares
Sep. 28, 2011
USD ($)
shares
Dec. 31, 2015
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
Dec. 31, 2014
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
Dec. 31, 2013
$ / shares
shares
Dec. 31, 2012
shares
Mar. 18, 2016
$ / shares
Dec. 31, 2015
€ / shares
Oct. 22, 2013
shares
Subsequent Event [Line Items]                  
Quarterly dividends, per share, declared | $ / shares     $ 2.20 $ 1.96 $ 1.68        
Shareholders Equity Textuals Abstract                  
Ordinary shares authorized     750,000,000            
Eaton Corporation plc ordinary share par value | $ / shares     $ 0.01            
Ordinary shares issued and outstanding     458,800,000 467,900,000          
Deferred ordinary shares authorized     40,000            
Deferred ordinary shares par value | € / shares               € 1.00  
Deferred ordinary shares, shares issued and outstanding     40,000 40,000          
Preferred A Shares authorized     10,000            
Preferred A Shares par value | $ / shares     $ 1.00            
Preferred A Shares, Shares Issued     10,000 10,000          
Preferred A Shares, Shares Outstanding     10,000 10,000          
Serial preferred shares authorized     10,000,000            
Serial preferred share par value per share | $ / shares     $ 0.01            
Serial preferred shares, shares issued and outstanding     0 0          
Number of holders of record of Eaton ordinary shares     18,538            
Number of current and former employees who were shareholders through various Eaton plans     23,559            
Disclosure of Repurchase Agreements [Abstract]                  
2011 Retired Stock Repurchase Program, Number of Shares Authorized to be Repurchased   20,000,000              
2011 share repurchase program, maximum aggregate purchase price of shares authorized | $   $ 1,250              
2011 share repurchase progam, shares purchased           0      
2013 share repurchase program, number of shares authorized to be repurchased                 40,000,000
2013 stock repurchase program, authorized repurchase price as percent of Eaton closing share price, low range                 70.00%
2013 stock repurchase program, authorized repurchase price as percent of Eaton closing share price, high range                 120.00%
2013 share repurchase program, shares purchased - shares     11,300,000 9,600,000 0        
2013 share repurchase program, shares purchased - cost | $     $ 682 $ 650          
Employee Trust [Abstract]                  
Deferred compensation plan trust of shares and marketable secutities | $     $ 16 $ 19          
Earnings Per Share, Diluted, Other Disclosures [Abstract]                  
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of net income per ordinary share     1,600,000 500,000 200,000        
Subsequent Event [Member]                  
Subsequent Event [Line Items]                  
Quarterly dividends payable, amount per share | $ / shares             $ 0.57    
Quarterly dividends, per share, declared | $ / shares $ 0.57