Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Textuals) [Abstract]
Eaton's target percentage of managing intercompany balance sheet exposure			100.00%
Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Interest Expense [Member]
Amounts recognized in net income
Gain (loss) recognized in net income	$ 8	$ 32	$ 2	$ 36
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Foreign Exchange Contract [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member]
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income
Gain (loss) recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive loss	0	2	1	(1)
Gain (loss) reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive loss	0	0	0	0
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Commodity Contract [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member]
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income
Gain (loss) recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(1)	(4)	(1)	(3)
Gain (loss) reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive loss	3	3	5	5
Net Investment Hedging [Member] | Cross Currency Interest Rate Contract [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member]
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income
Gain (loss) recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive loss	1	4	1	4
Gain (loss) reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive loss	0	0	0	0
Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Related Long Term Debt Converted To Floating Interest Rates By Interest Rate Swaps [Member] | Interest Expense [Member]
Amounts recognized in net income
Gain (loss) recognized in net income	(8)	(32)	(2)	(36)
Net Investment Hedging [Member] | Cost of Sales [Member]
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income
Gain (loss) recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive loss	0	2	1	0
Gain (loss) reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive loss	3	3	5	5
Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Interest Expense [Member]
Amounts recognized in net income
Gain (loss) recognized in net income	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0