Consolidated Statements of Income (USD $) In Millions, except Share data	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 4,090	$ 3,378	$ 7,893	$ 6,481
Cost of products sold	2,862	2,387	5,544	4,588
Selling and administrative expense	698	604	1,363	1,191
Research and development expense	107	103	212	204
Interest expense-net	31	34	63	69
Other income-net	(4)	(1)	(20)	(9)
Income before income taxes	396	251	731	438
Income tax expense	58	22	107	53
Net income	338	229	624	385
Less net income for noncontrolling interests	(2)	(3)	(1)	(4)
Net income attributable to Eaton common shareholders	$ 336	$ 226	$ 623	$ 381
Net income per common share
Diluted	$ 0.97	$ 0.66	$ 1.80	$ 1.12
Basic	$ 0.99	$ 0.67	$ 1.83	$ 1.14
Weighted-average number of common shares outstanding
Diluted	345,700,000	340,400,000	345,700,000	339,800,000
Basic	340,900,000	334,700,000	340,500,000	334,500,000
Cash dividends paid per common share	0.34	0.25	0.68	0.50