CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	Total	Total Eaton shareholders' equity	Ordinary shares	Capital in excess of par value	Retained earnings	Accumulated other comprehensive loss	Shares held in trust	Noncontrolling interests
Balance at beginning of period (shares) at Dec. 31, 2018			423.6
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 16,142	$ 16,107	$ 4	$ 12,090	$ 8,161	$ (4,145)	$ (3)	$ 35
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	2,213	2,211			2,211			2
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	(145)	(145)				(145)
Cash dividends paid	(1,204)	(1,201)			(1,201)			(3)
Issuance of shares under equity-based compensation plans (shares)			2.2
Issuance of shares under equity-based compensation plans	110	110		110	(1)		1
Acquisitions of businesses	55							55
Acquisition of noncontrolling interest obtained through tender offer	(33)							(33)
Business divestiture	(4)							(4)
Changes in noncontrolling interest of consolidated subsidiaries - net	(1)							(1)
Repurchase of shares (shares)			(12.5)
Repurchase of shares	(1,000)	(1,000)			(1,000)
Balance at end of period (shares) at Dec. 31, 2019			413.3
Balance at end of period at Dec. 31, 2019	16,133	16,082	$ 4	12,200	8,170	(4,290)	(2)	51
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	1,415	1,410			1,410			5
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	95	95				95
Cash dividends paid	(1,184)	(1,175)			(1,175)			(9)
Issuance of shares under equity-based compensation plans (shares)			1.9
Issuance of shares under equity-based compensation plans	126	126		129	(3)
Changes in noncontrolling interest of consolidated subsidiaries - net	(4)							(4)
Repurchase of shares (shares)			(17.1)
Repurchase of shares	(1,608)	(1,608)			(1,608)
Balance at end of period (shares) at Dec. 31, 2020			398.1
Balance at end of period at Dec. 31, 2020	14,973	14,930	$ 4	12,329	6,794	(4,195)	(2)	43
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	2,146	2,144			2,144			2
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	562	562				562
Cash dividends paid	(1,220)	(1,219)			(1,219)			(1)
Issuance of shares under equity-based compensation plans (shares)			1.6
Issuance of shares under equity-based compensation plans	118	118		120	(3)		1
Changes in noncontrolling interest of consolidated subsidiaries - net	(6)							(6)
Repurchase of shares (shares)			(0.9)
Repurchase of shares	(122)	(122)			(122)
Balance at end of period (shares) at Dec. 31, 2021			398.8
Balance at end of period at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 16,451	$ 16,413	$ 4	$ 12,449	$ 7,594	$ (3,633)	$ (1)	$ 38