<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<FilingSummary xmlns:xsi="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema-instance" xmlns:xsd="http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema">
  <Version>2.0.0.10</Version>
  <MyReports>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>true</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>00 - Document - Document and Entity Information</LongName>
      <ShortName>Document and Entity Information</ShortName>
      <Role>http://cooperindustries.com/role/DocumentAndEntityInformation</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R1.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0110 - Statement - Consolidated Income Statements (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Income Statements (Unaudited)</ShortName>
      <Role>http://cooperindustries.com/role/IncomeStatements</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R2.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0120 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets</LongName>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets</ShortName>
      <Role>http://cooperindustries.com/role/BalanceSheets</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R3.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0121 - Statement - Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</LongName>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical)</ShortName>
      <Role>http://cooperindustries.com/role/BalanceSheetsParenthetical</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R4.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0130 - Statement - Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)</LongName>
      <ShortName>Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows (Unaudited)</ShortName>
      <Role>http://cooperindustries.com/role/StatementsOfCashFlows</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R5.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0201 - Disclosure - Accounting Policies</LongName>
      <ShortName>Accounting Policies</ShortName>
      <Role>http://cooperindustries.com/role/AccountingPolicies</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R6.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0202 - Disclosure - Pending Contribution of Tools Business Assets and Liabilities to Joint Venture</LongName>
      <ShortName>Pending Contribution of Tools Business Assets and Liabilities to Joint Venture</ShortName>
      <Role>http://cooperindustries.com/role/PendingContributionOfToolsBusinessAssetsAndLiabilitiesToJointVenture</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R7.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0203 - Disclosure - Inventories</LongName>
      <ShortName>Inventories</ShortName>
      <Role>http://cooperindustries.com/role/Inventories</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R8.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0204 - Disclosure - Goodwill</LongName>
      <ShortName>Goodwill</ShortName>
      <Role>http://cooperindustries.com/role/Goodwill</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R9.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0205 - Disclosure - Contingencies</LongName>
      <ShortName>Contingencies</ShortName>
      <Role>http://cooperindustries.com/role/Contingencies</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R10.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0206 - Disclosure - Debt</LongName>
      <ShortName>Debt</ShortName>
      <Role>http://cooperindustries.com/role/Debt</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R11.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0207 - Disclosure - Shareholders Equity</LongName>
      <ShortName>Shareholders Equity</ShortName>
      <Role>http://cooperindustries.com/role/ShareholdersEquity</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R12.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0208 - Disclosure - Net Income and Other Nonowner Changes in Equity</LongName>
      <ShortName>Net Income and Other Nonowner Changes in Equity</ShortName>
      <Role>http://cooperindustries.com/role/NetIncomeAndOtherNonownerChangesInEquity</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R13.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0209 - Disclosure - Segment Information</LongName>
      <ShortName>Segment Information</ShortName>
      <Role>http://cooperindustries.com/role/SegmentInformation</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R14.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0210 - Disclosure - Restructuring Charges</LongName>
      <ShortName>Restructuring Charges</ShortName>
      <Role>http://cooperindustries.com/role/RestructuringCharges</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R15.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0211 - Disclosure - Stock-Based Compensation</LongName>
      <ShortName>Stock-Based Compensation</ShortName>
      <Role>http://cooperindustries.com/role/StockBasedCompensation</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R16.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0212 - Disclosure - Income Taxes</LongName>
      <ShortName>Income Taxes</ShortName>
      <Role>http://cooperindustries.com/role/IncomeTaxes</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R17.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0213 - Disclosure - Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits</LongName>
      <ShortName>Pension and Other Postretirement Benefits</ShortName>
      <Role>http://cooperindustries.com/role/PensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefits</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R18.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0214 - Disclosure - Net Income Per Common Share</LongName>
      <ShortName>Net Income Per Common Share</ShortName>
      <Role>http://cooperindustries.com/role/NetIncomePerCommonShare</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R19.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0215 - Disclosure - Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities, Concentrations of Credit Risk and Fair Value of Financial Instruments</LongName>
      <ShortName>Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities, Concentrations of Credit Risk and Fair Value of Financial Instruments</ShortName>
      <Role>http://cooperindustries.com/role/FinancialInstrumentsAndHedgingActivitiesConcentrationsOfCreditRiskAndFairValueOfFinancialInstruments</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R20.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0216 - Disclosure - Discontinued Operations Receivable and Liability</LongName>
      <ShortName>Discontinued Operations Receivable and Liability</ShortName>
      <Role>http://cooperindustries.com/role/DiscontinuedOperationsReceivableAndLiability</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R21.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Sheet</ReportType>
      <LongName>0217 - Disclosure - Consolidating Financial Information</LongName>
      <ShortName>Consolidating Financial Information</ShortName>
      <Role>http://cooperindustries.com/role/ConsolidatingFinancialInformation</Role>
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName>R22.xml</XmlFileName>
    </Report>
    <Report>
      <IsDefault>false</IsDefault>
      <ReportType>Book</ReportType>
      <LongName>All Reports</LongName>
      <ShortName>All Reports</ShortName>
      <Role />
      <ContainEmbeddedReports>false</ContainEmbeddedReports>
      <XmlFileName />
    </Report>
  </MyReports>
  <EntityCount>1</EntityCount>
  <ContextCount>7</ContextCount>
  <SegmentCount>0</SegmentCount>
  <ScenarioCount>0</ScenarioCount>
  <UnitCount>3</UnitCount>
  <ElementCount>101</ElementCount>
  <FootnotesReported>true</FootnotesReported>
  <TuplesReported>false</TuplesReported>
  <ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>January-01-2010_March-31-2010</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>64</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_30Jun2009</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2008</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>ThreeMonthsEnded_31Mar2009</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>40</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Dec2009</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>29</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Mar2010</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>30</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
    <ContextSummary>
      <ContextName>BalanceAsOf_31Mar2009</ContextName>
      <ElementCount>1</ElementCount>
    </ContextSummary>
  </ContextSummary>
  <BaseTaxonomies />
  <HasPresentationLinkbase>true</HasPresentationLinkbase>
  <HasCalculationLinkbase>true</HasCalculationLinkbase>
</FilingSummary>
