Eaton Shareholders' Equity Eaton Shareholders' Equity (Textuals) (Details) (USD $)	0 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 28, 2011	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Disclosure of Repurchase Agreements [Abstract]
2007 common share repurchase program, number of shares authorized to be repurchased		10,000,000
Payments for stock repurchased under 2007 programs		$ 343,000,000
2011 share repurchase program, number of shares authorized to be repurchased	20,000,000
2011 share repurchase program, maximum aggregate purchase price of shares authorized	1,250,000,000
2011 share repurchase progam, shares purchased		0
2007 share repurchase program, shares purchased		8,300,000	0	0
Earnings Per Share, Diluted, Other Disclosures [Abstract]
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share, amount		1,500,000	6,900,000	16,300,000
Employee Trust [Abstract]
Deferred compensation plan trust of shares and marketable secutities		$ 6,000,000	$ 9,000,000
Shareholders Equity Textuals Abstract
Common shares authorized		500,000,000
Common shares authorized, par value per share		$ 0.50
Common shares issued and outstanding		334,400,000	339,900,000
Number of holders of record of common shares		8,191
Number of current and former employees who were shareholders		18,220