EQUITY - Changes in Shareholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2023	Mar. 31, 2022
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	$ 17,075	$ 16,451
Net income	639	533
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	132	116
Cash dividends paid and accrued	(352)	(333)
Issuance of shares under equity-based compensation plans	(11)	(24)
Changes in noncontrolling interest of consolidated subsidiaries - net	1	(1)
Repurchase of shares		(86)
Balance at end of period	17,485	16,656
Total Eaton shareholders' equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	17,038	16,413
Net income	638	532
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	132	116
Cash dividends paid and accrued	(348)	(331)
Issuance of shares under equity-based compensation plans	(11)	(24)
Repurchase of shares		(86)
Balance at end of period	$ 17,449	$ 16,620
Ordinary shares
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period (shares)	397.8	398.8
Balance at beginning of period	$ 4	$ 4
Issuance of shares under equity-based compensation plans (shares)	0.7	0.8
Repurchase of shares (shares)		(0.6)
Balance at end of period (shares)	398.6	399.0
Balance at end of period	$ 4	$ 4
Capital in excess of par value
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	12,512	12,449
Issuance of shares under equity-based compensation plans	(11)	(22)
Balance at end of period	12,502	12,427
Retained earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	8,468	7,594
Net income	638	532
Cash dividends paid and accrued	(348)	(331)
Issuance of shares under equity-based compensation plans	(1)	(2)
Repurchase of shares		(86)
Balance at end of period	8,757	7,707
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	(3,946)	(3,633)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	132	116
Balance at end of period	(3,814)	(3,517)
Shares held in trust
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	(1)	(1)
Issuance of shares under equity-based compensation plans	1
Balance at end of period	0	(1)
Noncontrolling interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance at beginning of period	38	38
Net income	1	1
Cash dividends paid and accrued	(4)	(2)
Changes in noncontrolling interest of consolidated subsidiaries - net	1	(1)
Balance at end of period	$ 36	$ 36