Amounts Recognized in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities (Textuals) [Abstract]
Losses associated with commodity hedge contracts	$ 18
Foreign currency debt designated as non-derivative investment hedging instruments	129	123
Eaton's target percentage of managing intercompany balance sheet exposure	100.00%
Cash received from early termination of interest rate swaps	0	22	15
Cost of Sales [Member] \| Net Investment Hedging [Member]
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income
Gain (loss) recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(21)	(2)
Gain (loss) reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive loss	0	6
Interest Expense [Member] \| Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Amounts recognized in net income
Gain (loss) recognized in net income	0	0
Fixed-to-floating interest rate swaps \| Interest Expense [Member] \| Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Amounts recognized in net income
Gain (loss) recognized in net income	24	33
Foreign currency exchange contracts \| Cost of Sales [Member] \| Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income
Gain (loss) recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(10)	(2)
Gain (loss) reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(6)	1
Commodity contracts \| Cost of Sales [Member] \| Cash Flow Hedging [Member]
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income
Gain (loss) recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(12)	8
Gain (loss) reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive loss	6	5
Cross currency swaps \| Cost of Sales [Member] \| Net Investment Hedging [Member]
Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income
Gain (loss) recognized in Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	1	(8)
Gain (loss) reclassified from Accumulated other comprehensive loss	0	0
Related Long Term Debt Converted To Floating Interest Rates By Interest Rate Swaps [Member] \| Interest Expense [Member] \| Fair Value Hedging [Member]
Amounts recognized in net income
Gain (loss) recognized in net income	$ (24)	$ (33)

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Percentage of intercompany balance sheet exposure.

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Proceeds from Early Termination of Interest Rate Swaps.

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The effective portion of net gain (loss) reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into income on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments.

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The amount of net gains and losses recognized in income during the period on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments in fair value hedges and related hedged items designated and qualifying in fair value hedges, on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments in cash flow hedges, and on derivative instruments not designated as hedging instruments.

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The effective portion of gains and losses (net) on derivative instruments designated and qualifying as hedging instruments that was recognized in other comprehensive income during the current period.

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Fair value as of the balance sheet date of all foreign currency derivative liabilities not designated as hedging instruments.

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- Definition

The difference between the book value and the sale price of agreements to purchase or sell mineral resources, energy, and agricultural products at some future point. This element refers to the gain (loss) included in earnings and not to the cash proceeds.

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