BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Debt [Member]
Reclassification of Debt Issuance Costs [Line Items]
Reclassification of debt issuance costs	$ 36	$ 35

Reclassification of Debt Issuance Costs - Unamortized debt issuance costs reclassified from Other assets to Debt

No definition available.

Name:	etn_ReclassificationofDebtIssuanceCosts
Namespace Prefix:	etn_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant