Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity Statement (USD $) In Millions	Total	Ordinary Shares [Member]	Capital In Excess Of Par Value [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss [Member]	Shares Held in Trust [Member]	Total Eaton Shareholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 7,403	$ 170	$ 4,093	$ 4,455	$ (1,348)	$ (8)	$ 7,362	$ 41
Ordinary shares, shares outstanding at period start at Dec. 31, 2010		339.9
Net income	1,352	0	0	1,350	0	0	1,350	2
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(616)				(616)		(616)	0
Cash dividends paid	(466)	0	0	(462)	0	0	(462)	(4)
Issuance of shares under equity-based compensation plans - net (net of income tax benefit of $32, $23 and $72 for the years 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively)	178	1	177	(2)	0	2	178	0
Business divestiture	(16)	0	0	0	0	0	0	(16)
Issuance of shares under equity-based compensation plans - net (net of income tax benefit of $32, $23 and $72 for the years 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively), shares		2.8
Repurchase of shares, shares		(8.3)
Repurchase of shares	(343)	(4)	(101)	(238)	0	0	(343)	0
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2011	7,492	167	4,169	5,103	(1,964)	(6)	7,469	23
Ordinary shares, shares outstanding at period end at Dec. 31, 2011		334.4
Net income	1,220	0	0	1,217	0	0	1,217	3
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	0				0		0	0
Cash dividends paid	(515)	0	0	(512)	0	0	(512)	(3)
Exchange of Eaton Corporation shares (par value $0.50 per share) for Eaton shares (par value $0.01 per share)	0	(166)	166	0	0	0	0	0
Issuance of shares under equity-based compensation plans - net (net of income tax benefit of $32, $23 and $72 for the years 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively)	129	2	129	(2)	0	0	129	0
Issuance of shares under employee benefit plans, shares		3.2
Issuance of shares under employee benefit plans	168	0	166	0	0	2	168	0
Issuance of shares from acquisition of business, shares		128.1
Issuance of shares from acquisition of business	6,691	2	6,648	(1)	0	0	6,649	42
Issuance of shares under equity-based compensation plans - net (net of income tax benefit of $32, $23 and $72 for the years 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively), shares		5.0
Registration of ordinary shares	(7)	0	(7)	0	0	0	(7)	0
Shareholders' equity attributable to noncontrolling interest at period end at Dec. 31, 2012	65
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2012	15,178	5	11,271	5,805	(1,964)	(4)	15,113	65
Shareholders' equity attributable to parent at period end at Dec. 31, 2012	15,113
Ordinary shares, shares outstanding at period end at Dec. 31, 2012	470.7	470.7
Net income	1,873	0	0	1,861	0	0	1,861	12
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	404				404		404	0
Cash dividends paid	(801)	0	0	(796)	0	0	(796)	(5)
Issuance of shares under equity-based compensation plans - net (net of income tax benefit of $32, $23 and $72 for the years 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively)	209	0	212	(4)	0	1	209	0
Issuance of shares under equity-based compensation plans - net (net of income tax benefit of $32, $23 and $72 for the years 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively), shares		4.4
Shareholders' equity attributable to noncontrolling interest at period end at Dec. 31, 2013	72
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2013	16,863	5	11,483	6,866	(1,560)	(3)	16,791	72
Shareholders' equity attributable to parent at period end at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 16,791
Ordinary shares, shares outstanding at period end at Dec. 31, 2013	475.1	475.1