Business Segment and Geographic Region Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Total business acquistion transaction cost	$ 178	$ 0	$ 0
Business segment acquisition integration pretax charges	33	14	40
Entity-wide revenue, major customer, amount	0	0	0
Business Segment Information
Net sales	16,311	16,049	13,715
Segment operating profit	2,216	2,260	1,700
Amortization of intangible assets	(195)	(190)	(181)
Interest expense-net	(208)	(118)	(136)
Pension and other postretirement benefits expense	(162)	(142)	(120)
Inventory valuation write-off	(42)	(5)	0
Other corporate expense-net	(358)	(252)	(227)
Income before income taxes	1,251	1,553	1,036
Income tax expense	31	201	99
Net income	1,220	1,352	937
Less net income for noncontrolling interests	(3)	(2)	(8)
Net income attributable to Eaton ordinary shareholders	1,217	1,350	929
Electrical Americas [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Business segment acquisition integration pretax charges	7	8	2
Business Segment Information
Net sales	4,517	4,192	3,675
Segment operating profit	749	605	529
Electrical Rest of World [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Business segment acquisition integration pretax charges	8	2	33
Business Segment Information
Net sales	2,731	2,984	2,748
Segment operating profit	249	278	264
Cooper [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Business segment acquisition integration pretax charges	2	0	0
Business Segment Information
Net sales	470	0	0
Segment operating profit	66	0	0
Hydraulics [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Business segment acquisition integration pretax charges	16	4	1
Business Segment Information
Net sales	2,960	2,835	2,212
Segment operating profit	369	438	279
Aerospace [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Business segment acquisition integration pretax charges	0	0	4
Business Segment Information
Net sales	1,719	1,648	1,536
Segment operating profit	213	244	220
Truck [Member]
Business Segment Information
Net sales	2,309	2,644	1,997
Segment operating profit	420	486	245
Automotive [Member]
Business Segment Information
Net sales	1,605	1,746	1,547
Segment operating profit	150	209	163
All Segments [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Business segment acquisition integration pretax charges	$ 33	$ 14	$ 40