Consolidated Statements of Shareholders' Equity Statement (USD $) In Millions	Total	Common Shares [Member]	Capital In Excess Of Par Value [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Deferred Compensation Plans [Member]	Total Eaton Shareholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2008	$ 6,365	$ 165	$ 3,869	$ 3,844	$ (1,538)	$ (23)	$ 6,317	$ 48
Common shares, shares, outstanding at period start at Dec. 31, 2008		330.0
Net income	385	0	0	383	0	0	383	2
Foreign currency translation and related hedging instruments (net of income tax benefit of $11 for the year 2011 and income tax expense of $45 for the year 2009)	349	0	0	0	349	0	349	0
Pensions (net of income tax benefit of $162 and $30 for the years 2011 and 2010 and income tax expense of $42 for the year 2009)	1	0	0	0	1	0	1	0
Other postretirement benefits (net of income tax benefit of $11, $4, and $14 for the years 2011, 2010, and 2009)	(56)	0	0	0	(56)	0	(56)	0
Cash flow hedges (net of income tax benefit of $12 for the year 2011 and income tax expense of $19 for the year 2009)	36	0	0	0	36	0	36	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	330						330	0
Total comprehensive income loss	715						713	2
Cash dividends paid	(339)	0	0	(334)	0	0	(334)	(5)
Issuance of shares under employee benefit plans-net (net of income tax benefit of $72 and $3 for the years 2011 and 2009 and income tax expense of $3 for the year 2010)	81	1	78	0	0	2	81	0
Issuance of shares under employee benefit plans-net (net of income tax benefit of $72 and $3 for the years 2011 and 2009 and income tax expense of $3 for the year 2010)		2.3
Decrease in noncontrolling interests due to sale of businesses		0	0	0	0	0	0
Business divestiture	(4)							(4)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2009	6,818	166	3,947	3,893	(1,208)	(21)	6,777	41
Common shares, shares, outstanding at period end at Dec. 31, 2009		332.3
Net income	937	0	0	929	0	0	929	8
Foreign currency translation and related hedging instruments (net of income tax benefit of $11 for the year 2011 and income tax expense of $45 for the year 2009)	(78)	0	0	0	(78)	0	(78)	0
Pensions (net of income tax benefit of $162 and $30 for the years 2011 and 2010 and income tax expense of $42 for the year 2009)	(61)	0	0	0	(61)	0	(61)	0
Other postretirement benefits (net of income tax benefit of $11, $4, and $14 for the years 2011, 2010, and 2009)	(1)	0	0	0	(1)	0	(1)	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(140)						(140)	0
Total comprehensive income loss	797						789	8
Cash dividends paid	(371)	0	0	(363)	0	0	(363)	(8)
Issuance of shares under employee benefit plans-net (net of income tax benefit of $72 and $3 for the years 2011 and 2009 and income tax expense of $3 for the year 2010)	159	4	146	(4)	0	13	159	0
Issuance of shares under employee benefit plans-net (net of income tax benefit of $72 and $3 for the years 2011 and 2009 and income tax expense of $3 for the year 2010)		7.6
Stockholders' equity attributable to noncontrolling interest at period end at Dec. 31, 2010	41
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2010	7,403	170	4,093	4,455	(1,348)	(8)	7,362	41
Shareholders' equity attributable to parent at period end at Dec. 31, 2010	7,362
Common shares, shares, outstanding at period end at Dec. 31, 2010	339.9	339.9
Net income	1,352	0	0	1,350	0	0	1,350	2
Foreign currency translation and related hedging instruments (net of income tax benefit of $11 for the year 2011 and income tax expense of $45 for the year 2009)	(241)	0	0	0	(241)	0	(241)	0
Pensions (net of income tax benefit of $162 and $30 for the years 2011 and 2010 and income tax expense of $42 for the year 2009)	(337)	0	0	0	(337)	0	(337)	0
Other postretirement benefits (net of income tax benefit of $11, $4, and $14 for the years 2011, 2010, and 2009)	(16)	0	0	0	(16)	0	(16)	0
Cash flow hedges (net of income tax benefit of $12 for the year 2011 and income tax expense of $19 for the year 2009)	(22)	0	0	0	(22)	0	(22)	0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(616)						(616)	0
Total comprehensive income loss	736						734	2
Cash dividends paid	(466)	0	0	(462)	0	0	(462)	(4)
Issuance of shares under employee benefit plans-net (net of income tax benefit of $72 and $3 for the years 2011 and 2009 and income tax expense of $3 for the year 2010)	178	1	177	(2)	0	2	178	0
Issuance of shares under employee benefit plans-net (net of income tax benefit of $72 and $3 for the years 2011 and 2009 and income tax expense of $3 for the year 2010)		2.8
Business divestiture	(16)							(16)
Repurchase of shares		(8.3)
Repurchase of shares	(343)	(4)	(101)	(238)	0	0	(343)	0
Stockholders' equity attributable to noncontrolling interest at period end at Dec. 31, 2011	23
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2011	7,492	167	4,169	5,103	(1,964)	(6)	7,469	23
Shareholders' equity attributable to parent at period end at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 7,469
Common shares, shares, outstanding at period end at Dec. 31, 2011	334.4	334.4