Sales Revenue, Net Net sales Total sales of parent company Net sales Net sales Selling, General and Administrative Expense Selling & administrative expense Selling and administrative expense Research and Development Expense Research & development expense Research and development expense Other (income) expense-net Income tax expense (benefits) Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Income taxes expene Income tax expense (benefit) Net income attributable to Eaton common shareholders Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Net income attributable to Eaton common shareholders Total Earnings Per Share, Diluted Total Net income per common share - diluted Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding - diluted Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted, Total Diluted Earnings Per Share, Basic Total Net income per common share - basic Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding - diluted Basic Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid Cash dividends paid per common share Cash Inventory, Net Total inventory Inventory Property, Plant and Equipment, Net Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Ending Balance Property, Plant and Equipment, Net, Beginning Balance Long-lived assets Net property, plant and equipment Property, plant & equipment-net Goodwill Intangible Assets, Net (Excluding Goodwill) Other intangible assets Other intangible assets Total current assets Total current assets Total assets Short-term Borrowings Short-term debt Short-term debt Non-United States Short-term debt Other current liabilities Other current liabilities Liabilities, Current Total current liabilities Total current liabilities Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending Balance Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Beginning Balance Eaton shareholders' equity Total Eaton shareholders' equity Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Total liabilities and equity Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities Net cash provided by operating activities Total expenditures for property, plant and equipment Payments to Acquire Property, Plant, and Equipment Capital expenditures for property, plant and equipment Expenditures for property, plant & equipment Other-net Other-net Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities Net cash used in investing activities Cash dividends paid Cash dividends paid Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities Cash and Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease) Total increase (decrease) in cash Total (decrease) increase in cash Cash and Cash Equivalents, at Carrying Value Cash at the end of the year Cash at the beginning of the year Cash at the beginning of the year Cash at the beginning of the year Noncontrolling interests Current liabilities Current assets Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activities [Abstract] Financing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Investing Activities [Abstract] Investing activities Net Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Operating activities Cost of products sold Cost of products sold Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations, Current Less current portion of long-term debt Less current portion of long-term debt Current portion of long-term debt Current portion of long-term debt Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations Long-term debt less current portion Long-term debt Long-term debt Acquisitions of Businesses. Acquisitions of Businesses [Abstract] Acquisitions of Businesses [Abstract] ACQUISITIONS OF BUSINESSES RETIREMENT BENEFIT PLANS EXPENSE RETIREMENT BENEFITS PLANS INCOME TAXES Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Text Block] DERIVATIVE FINANCIAL INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES Available-for-sale Securities, Current Total short-term investments Short-term investments Short-term investments Net Income Per Common Share [Abstract] Calculation of net income per common share attributable to common shareholders Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Net income (loss) Net income Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Less comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests Less net income for noncontrolling interests Adjustment of net income for noncontrolling interests Less comprehensive income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Ending Balance Beginning Balance Total equity Pension liabilities Other postretirement benefits liabilities Accounts payable Accrued compensation Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Depreciation & amortization Depreciation and amortization Receivables, Net, Current Accounts receivable Accounts receivable-net Proceeds from Sale of Short-term Investments (Purchases) sales of short-term investments-net Proceeds from (Repayments of) Short-term Debt, Maturing in Three Months or Less Borrowings (payments) with original maturities of less than three months-net, primarily commercial paper Borrowings with original maturities of less than three months-net (primarily commercial paper) Interest expense net Interest expense-net Interest expense-net Interest expense-net. Payments of original maturities of more than three months Payments Payments Payments of original maturities of more than three months. Increase (Decrease) in Other Operating Assets and Liabilities, Net Other-net Other-net Other-net Income loss from continuing operations before income taxes Total income before income taxes Total income before income taxes Income from continuing operations before income taxes Income (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes. Other-net Proceeds from (Payments for) Other Financing Activities Cash dividends paid Cash dividends paid Payments of Dividends Other-net Payments for (Proceeds from) Other Investing Activities Other (income) expense-net Other Nonoperating Income (Expense) Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Document Type Document Period End Date Amendment Flag Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding Statement [Table] Statement [Line Items] Cost of Revenue Assets, Current [Abstract] Cash Assets, Current Goodwill Assets Liabilities, Current [Abstract] Accounts Payable, Current Employee-related Liabilities, Current Other Liabilities, Current Defined Benefit Pension Plan, Liabilities, Noncurrent Other Postretirement Defined Benefit Plan, Liabilities, Noncurrent Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Business Combination Disclosure [Text Block] Income Tax Disclosure [Text Block] Adjustments to Reconcile Net Income (Loss) to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activities [Abstract] Adjustments to reconcile to net cash provided by operating activities Other-net Stockholders' Equity Note Disclosure [Text Block] EATON SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY Eaton Shareholders' Equity [Abstract] Eaton Shareholders' Equity Components of inventories Inventories [Abstract] Retirement Benefit Plans [Abstract] Retirement Benefits Plans [Abstract] Income Taxes [Abstract] Income Taxes [Abstract] Derivative Financial Instruments and Hedging Activities [Abstract] Derivative Instruments And Hedging Activities Stockholders' Equity, Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest [Abstract] Shareholders' equity Consolidated Statements of Income [Abstract] Consolidated Balance Sheets [Abstract] Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows [Abstract] Acquisitions of Businesses (Details) [Abstract] Acquisitions of Businesses (Details) [Abstract] Acquisitions Of Businesses Details. Acquisitions of Businesses (Tables) [Abstract] Acquisitions of Businesses Tables. Electrical Rest of World [Member] Segment One Member. Hydraulics [Member] Segment two. Automotive [Member] Segment Three Member. Beginning Balance Restructuring Reserve, Total Ending Balance Restructuring Reserve Employees [Member] Plant closing and other [Member] Acquisitions Of Businesses Textuals Abstract Acquisitions of Businesses (Textuals) [Abstract] Acquisitions of Businesses Textuals. Type of Restructuring [Domain] Statement, Business Segments [Axis] Segment, Business [Domain] Summary of Acquisition Integration, Workforce Reduction & Plant Closing Liabilities Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward] Restructuring Reserve Employees Beginning Balance, employees Restructuring reserve, Employees Ending Balance, employees Utilized utilization of various components. Utilized Utilized, employees Utilization of various components, employees. Utilization Of Various Components Employees Utilization Of Various Components Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document and Entity Information. Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Description Of Annual Sales From Acquired Entity From Previous Periods Text Block Description of annual sales from acquired entity from previous periods Description Of Annual Sales From Acquired Entity From Previous Periods Text Block. Business Acquisition One Member. Micro Innovation Holding AG [Member] EMC Engineers, Inc. [Member] Business Acquisition Three Member. Description of annual sales from acquired entity from previous periods Abstract Description of annual sales from acquired entity from previous periods Description of annual sales from acquired entity from previous periods. Business Acquisition [Axis] Business Acquisition, Acquiree [Domain] Retirement Benefits Plans (Details) [Abstract] Retirement Benefits Plans Details. Acquisition Integration Charges [Text Block] Acquisition Integration Charges Acquisition Integration Charges Text Block. Acquisition Integration Charges [Abstract] Business segment operating profit reduced by acquisition integration charges Acquisition Integration Charges Acquisition Integration Charges Abstract. Acquisition Integration Pretax Charges Total Total integration charges before income taxes Acquisition Integration Pretax Charges. Acquisition Integration After Tax Charges After-tax charges Acquisition Integration After Tax Charges. Acquisition Integration Charges Per Common Share Per common share Acquisition Integration Charges Per Common Share. Pension liabilities [Member] Other postretirement liabilities [Member] Defined Benefit Plan, Service Cost Service cost Interest cost Defined Benefit Plan, Interest Cost Defined Benefit Plan, Expected Return on Plan Assets Expected return on plan assets Expected return on plan assets Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Gains (Losses) Amortization Amortization Defined Benefit Plan, Recognized Net Gain (Loss) Due to Curtailments Curtailment loss Curtailment loss Curtailment loss Pension settlement expense Defined Benefit Plan, Recognized Net (Gain) Loss Due to Settlements Settlement loss Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost Pension liabilities Total expense Net periodic retirement benefit costs for pensions and other post retirement benefits Retirement Benefits Plans Textuals Abstract Retirement Benefits Plans (Textuals) [Abstract] Retirement Benefits Plans Textuals. Restricted Lump Sum Payments Restricted lump sum payments, percent Restricted lump sum payments. Defined Benefit Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost [Abstract] Retirement benefit plans expense Defined Benefit Plans Disclosures, Defined Benefit Plans [Axis] Defined Benefit Plans [Domain] Electrical Americas [Member] Segment Four Member. Aerospace [Member] Segment Five Member. Corporate [Member] Segment Six Member. Pretax charges for severance and pension and other postretirement benefits expense Restructuring Charges, Total Restructuring Charges Pension settlement expense Defined Benefit Plan, Settlements, Benefit Obligation Curtailment expense Defined Benefit Plan, Curtailments Utilized, employees Sales of Acquired Businesses Sales of acquired businesses Sales of Acquired Businesses. Issuance of shares under employee benefit plans-net (net of income tax benefits of $16 and $3 for the years 2008 and 2009, respectively, and income tax expense of $3 for the year 2010) Stock Issued During Period, Value, Share-based Compensation Issuance of shares under employee benefit plans-net Cash flow hedges (net of income tax benefit of $12 for the year 2008 and income tax expense of $19 for the year 2009) Other Comprehensive Income, Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Net of Tax Cash flow hedges Cash flow hedges (net of income taxes of $X in 2010 and $4 in 2009) Income Taxes (Details) [Abstract] Income Taxes Details Abstract. Income Taxes (Textuals) [Abstract] Income Taxes (Textuals) [Abstract] Income Taxes Textuals Abstract. Effective Income Tax Rate, Continuing Operations Worldwide operations effective income tax expense (benefit) reconciliation rate Effective Income Tax Rate, Continuing Operations, Total Effective income tax rate Statement, Equity Components [Axis] Equity Component [Domain] Total Eaton shareholders' equity Noncontrolling interests Dividends, Common Stock, Cash Cash dividends paid Inventories Text Block Components of inventories Inventories. Inventory, Raw Materials Inventory, Raw Materials, Total Raw materials Weighted Average Number Diluted Shares Outstanding Adjustment Less dilutive effect of stock options and restricted stock awards Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Grouping [Text Block] Summary of financial instruments recognized at fair value and fair value measurement used Related long term debt converted to floating interest rates by interest rate swaps Long-term debt converted to floating interest rates by interest rate swaps Related long-term debt converted to floating interest rates by interest rate swaps. Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets (Level 1) [Member] Other Observable inputs Level 2) [Member] Unobservable inputs (Level 3) [Member] Defined Benefit Plan, Fair Value of Plan Assets Balance at December 31 Balance at January 1 Fair value of plan assets Defined benefit pension plans, assets at fair value Long Term Debt Carrying value of long-term debt and current portion of long-term debt Long-term Debt, Total Long-term Debt FIFO Inventory Amount Inventories at FIFO Excess of Replacement or Current Costs over Stated LIFO Value Excess of FIFO over LIFO cost Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Disclosure Items [Axis] Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Disclosure Items [Domain] Debt Instrument, Fair Value Fair value of long-term debt and current portion of long-term debt Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss) Segment Reporting Information, Operating Income (Loss), Total Segment operating profit (loss) Segment Reporting Information, Amortization Expense Amortization of intangible assets Amortization of intangible assets Pension And Other Postretirement Benefits Expense Pension and other postretirement benefits expense Pension & other postretirement benefits expense Pension & other postretirement benefits expense. Stock Option Expense Stock option expense Stock option expense Stock option expense. Other Corporate Expense Net Other corporate expense-net Other corporate expense-net Other corporate expense-net. Business Segment Reporting Text Block Business Segment Information Business Segment Information. Other current liabilities [Member] Other long-term assets [Member] Included In Other Long Term Assets. Related long-term debt converted to floating interest rates by interest rate swaps [Member] Related long-term debt converted to floating interest rates by interest rate swaps. Derivative Financial Instruments Recognized In The Consolidated Balance Sheet Text Block Derivative financial instruments recognized in the consolidated Balance sheet Derivative financial instruments recognized in the Consolidated Balance Sheet. Derivative Financial Instruments Recognized In Net Income Text Block Amounts recognized in net income Derivative financial instruments recognized in net income. Derivative asset designated as hedging instrument Derivative Asset Designated as Hedging Instrument, Fair Value Derivative Liability Designated as Hedging Instrument, Fair Value Derivative liability designated as hedging instrument Derivative Asset Not Designated as Hedging Instrument, Fair Value Derivative asset not designated as hedging instrument Derivative Liability Not Designated as Hedging Instrument, Fair Value Derivative liability not designated as hedging instrument Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income, Net Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) Recognized in Income, Net, Total Gain (loss) recognized in net income Foreign currency exchange contracts (cash flow hedges) [Member] Gain (loss) recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive loss Gain (Loss) on Fair Value Hedges Recognized in Earnings Gain (Loss) on Fair Value Hedges Recognized in Earnings, Total Gain (loss) reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive loss Cash Flow Hedge Gain (Loss) to be Reclassified within Twelve Months Derivatives, Fair Value, by Balance Sheet Location [Axis] Balance Sheet Location [Domain] Commodity contracts (cash flow hedges) [Member] Commodity contracts Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) by Income Statement Location [Axis] Income Statement and Other Comprehensive Income Location [Domain] Interest Expense [Member] Segment Reporting, Entity Consolidated Revenue [Abstract] Business Segment Information BUSINESS SEGMENT INFORMATION Truck Segment Seven Member. Fixed-to-floating interest rate swaps (fair value hedges) [Member] Other current assets [Member] Derivatives, Fair Value, by Derivative Instrument Risk [Axis] Derivative Contract Type [Domain] Cost of Sales [Member]