| **Financing Activities (Tables)**                                                                  | 3 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
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| **Receivables [Abstract]**                                                                         |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
| Impaired loans and finance leases                                                                  | Individually impaired loans and finance leases for the Customer portfolio segment were as follows:(Millions of dollars)            As of March 31, 2013 As of December 31, 2012Impaired Loans and Finance Leases WithNo Allowance RecordedRecordedInvestment UnpaidPrincipalBalance RelatedAllowance RecordedInvestment UnpaidPrincipalBalance RelatedAllowanceCustomer           North America$25 $23 $— $28 $27 $—Europe44 44 — 45 45 —Asia/Pacific5 5 — 2 2 —Mining— — — 1 1 —Latin America8 8 — 7 7 —Caterpillar Power Finance285 285 — 295 295 —Total$367 $365 $— $378 $377 $—Impaired Loans and Finance Leases WithAn Allowance Recorded           Customer           North America$39 $36 $12 $47 $43 $10Europe37 34 11 40 37 14Asia/Pacific48 48 11 35 35 8Mining40 39 9 23 23 5Latin America60 60 18 43 43 12Caterpillar Power Finance145 141 40 116 112 24Total$369 $358 $101 $304 $293 $73Total Impaired Loans and Finance Leases           Customer           North America$64 $59 $12 $75 $70 $10Europe81 78 11 85 82 14Asia/Pacific53 53 11 37 37 8Mining40 39 9 24 24 5Latin America68 68 18 50 50 12Caterpillar Power Finance430 426 40 411 407 24Total$736 $723 $101 $682 $670 $73             (Millions of dollars)        Three Months EndedMarch 31, 2013 Three Months EndedMarch 31, 2012Impaired Loans and Finance Leases With No AllowanceRecordedAverageRecordedInvestment InterestIncomeRecognized AverageRecordedInvestment InterestIncomeRecognizedCustomer       North America$28 $1 $67 $1Europe45 — 46 —Asia/Pacific4 — 3 —Mining— — 8 —Latin America9 — 6 —Caterpillar Power Finance285 — 185 1Total$371 $1 $315 $2        Impaired Loans and Finance Leases With An AllowanceRecorded       Customer       North America$42 $— $72 $—Europe41 1 40 —Asia/Pacific43 1 20 1Mining32 — 13 —Latin America54 1 26 —Caterpillar Power Finance131 — 87 —Total$343 $3 $258 $1        Total Impaired Loans and Finance Leases       Customer       North America$70 $1 $139 $1Europe86 1 86 —Asia/Pacific47 1 23 1Mining32 — 21 —Latin America63 1 32 —Caterpillar Power Finance416 — 272 1Total$714 $4 $573 $3                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| Investment in customer loans and finance leases on non-accrual status                              | The investment in customer loans and finance leases on non-accrual status was as follows: (Millions of dollars)    March 31, 2013 December 31, 2012Customer   North America$48 $59Europe41 38Asia/Pacific53 36Mining12 12Latin America167 148Caterpillar Power Finance196 220Total$517 $513                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| Aging related to loans and finance leases                                                          | Aging related to loans and finance leases was as follows: (Millions of dollars)              March 31, 2013 31-60DaysPast Due 61-90DaysPast Due 91+DaysPast Due TotalPast Due Current TotalFinance Receivables 91+ Still AccruingCustomer             North America$27 $7 $43 $77 $5,921 $5,998 $1Europe33 16 41 90 2,411 2,501 6Asia/Pacific62 34 81 177 3,256 3,433 30Mining5 — 12 17 2,102 2,119 —Latin America87 26 152 265 2,592 2,857 —Caterpillar Power Finance8 31 92 131 3,082 3,213 2Dealer           North America— — — — 2,776 2,776 —Europe— — — — 684 684 —Asia/Pacific— — — — 983 983 —Mining— — — — 1 1 —Latin America— — — — 1,049 1,049 —Caterpillar Power Finance— — — — — — —Caterpillar Purchased Receivables           North America17 3 1 21 1,487 1,508 1Europe2 — — 2 452 454 —Asia/Pacific— — — — 761 761 —Mining— — — — — — —Latin America— — — — 433 433 —Caterpillar Power Finance— 1 — 1 9 10 —Total$241 $118 $422 $781 $27,999 $28,780 $40               (Millions of dollars)              December 31, 2012 31-60DaysPast Due 61-90DaysPast Due 91+DaysPast Due TotalPast Due Current TotalFinanceReceivables 91+ Still AccruingCustomer             North America$35 $8 $52 $95 $5,889 $5,984 $—Europe23 9 36 68 2,487 2,555 6Asia/Pacific53 19 54 126 3,354 3,480 18Mining— 1 12 13 1,960 1,973 —Latin America62 19 138 219 2,500 2,719 —Caterpillar Power Finance15 14 126 155 3,017 3,172 4Dealer           North America— — — — 2,931 2,931 —Europe— — — — 652 652 —Asia/Pacific— — — — 945 945 —Mining— — — — 1 1 —Latin America— — — — 1,057 1,057 —Caterpillar Power Finance— — — — — — —Caterpillar Purchased Receivables           North America17 3 2 22 1,334 1,356 2Europe1 — — 1 331 332 —Asia/Pacific— — — — 868 868 —Mining— — — — — — —Latin America— — — — 547 547 —Caterpillar Power Finance— — 1 1 10 11 1Total$206 $73 $421 $700 $27,883 $28,583 $31                |
| Allowance for credit losses and recorded investment in finance receivables                         | In estimating the Allowance for credit losses, we review loans and finance leases that are past due, non-performing or in bankruptcy.  An analysis of the Allowance for credit losses was as follows:(Millions of dollars)        March 31, 2013Allowance for Credit Losses:Customer Dealer CaterpillarPurchased Receivables TotalBalance at beginning of year$414 $9 $3 $426Receivables written off(22) — — (22)Recoveries on receivables previously written off12 — — 12Provision for credit losses15 1 — 16Adjustment due to sale of receivables(1) — — (1)Foreign currency translation adjustment(2) — — (2)Balance at end of period$416 $10 $3 $429        Individually evaluated for impairment$101 $— $— $101Collectively evaluated for impairment315 10 3 328Ending Balance$416 $10 $3 $429        Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables:       Individually evaluated for impairment$736 $— $— $736Collectively evaluated for impairment19,385 5,493 3,166 28,044Ending Balance$20,121 $5,493 $3,166 $28,780        (Millions of dollars)        December 31, 2012Allowance for Credit Losses:Customer Dealer CaterpillarPurchased Receivables TotalBalance at beginning of year$360 $6 $3 $369Receivables written off(149) — — (149)Recoveries on receivables previously written off47 — — 47Provision for credit losses157 3 — 160Adjustment due to sale of receivables(2) — — (2)Foreign currency translation adjustment1 — — 1Balance at end of year$414 $9 $3 $426        Individually evaluated for impairment$73 $— $— $73Collectively evaluated for impairment341 9 3 353Ending Balance$414 $9 $3 $426        Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables:       Individually evaluated for impairment$682 $— $— $682Collectively evaluated for impairment19,201 5,586 3,114 27,901Ending Balance$19,883 $5,586 $3,114 $28,583                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| Recorded investment in performing and non-performing finance receivables                           | The recorded investment in performing and non-performing finance receivables was as follows:(Millions of dollars)        March 31, 2013 Customer Dealer CaterpillarPurchased Receivables TotalPerforming       North America$5,950 $2,776 $1,508 $10,234Europe2,460 684 454 3,598Asia/Pacific3,380 983 761 5,124Mining2,107 1 — 2,108Latin America2,690 1,049 433 4,172Caterpillar Power Finance3,017 — 10 3,027Total Performing$19,604 $5,493 $3,166 $28,263Non-Performing       North America$48 $— $— $48Europe41 — — 41Asia/Pacific53 — — 53Mining12 — — 12Latin America167 — — 167Caterpillar Power Finance196 — — 196Total Non-Performing$517 $— $— $517Total Performing and Non-Performing       North America$5,998 $2,776 $1,508 $10,282Europe2,501 684 454 3,639Asia/Pacific3,433 983 761 5,177Mining2,119 1 — 2,120Latin America2,857 1,049 433 4,339Caterpillar Power Finance3,213 — 10 3,223Total$20,121 $5,493 $3,166 $28,780        (Millions of dollars)        December 31, 2012 Customer Dealer CaterpillarPurchased Receivables TotalPerforming       North America$5,925 $2,931 $1,356 $10,212Europe2,517 652 332 3,501Asia/Pacific3,444 945 868 5,257Mining1,961 1 — 1,962Latin America2,571 1,057 547 4,175Caterpillar Power Finance2,952 — 11 2,963Total Performing$19,370 $5,586 $3,114 $28,070Non-Performing       North America$59 $— $— $59Europe38 — — 38Asia/Pacific36 — — 36Mining12 — — 12Latin America148 — — 148Caterpillar Power Finance220 — — 220Total Non-Performing$513 $— $— $513Total Performing and Non-Performing       North America$5,984 $2,931 $1,356 $10,271Europe2,555 652 332 3,539Asia/Pacific3,480 945 868 5,293Mining1,973 1 — 1,974Latin America2,719 1,057 547 4,323Caterpillar Power Finance3,172 — 11 3,183Total$19,883 $5,586 $3,114 $28,583                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
| Loans modified as TDRs                                                                             | Loans in the Customer portfolio segment modified as TDRs during the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, were as follows:(Dollars in millions)            Three Months EndedMarch 31, 2013 Three Months EndedMarch 31, 2012 Number ofContracts Pre-TDROutstandingRecorded Investment Post-TDROutstandingRecorded Investment Number ofContracts Pre-TDROutstandingRecorded Investment Post-TDROutstandingRecorded InvestmentCustomer           North America10 $2 $2 23 $2 $2Europe— — — 7 7 7Caterpillar Power Finance(1)4 36 37 5 32 32Total(2)14 $38 $39 35 $41 $41            (1) During the three months ended March 31, 2013, $5 million of additional funds were subsequently loaned to a borrower whose terms had been modified in a TDR.  The $5 million of additional funds is not reflected in the table above as no incremental modifications have been made with the borrower during the period presented.  At March 31, 2013, remaining commitments to lend additional funds to a borrower whose terms have been modified in a TDR were $30 million.(2) Modifications include extended contract maturities, inclusion of interest only periods, below market interest rates, and extended skip payment periods.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
| TDR's with a payment default that had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date | TDRs in the Customer portfolio segment with a payment default during the three months ended March 31, 2013 and 2012, which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date, were as follows:(Dollars in millions)        Three Months EndedMarch 31, 2013 Three Months EndedMarch 31, 2012 Number ofContracts Post-TDRRecordedInvestment Number ofContracts Post-TDRRecordedInvestmentCustomer       North America8 $2 11 $1Caterpillar Power Finance2 3 14 19Total10 $5 25 $20                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |

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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of recorded investment in performing and non-performing financing receivables (such as loans and finance leases).
+ References
No definition available.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of troubled debt restructurings with a payment default that had been modified within twelve months.
+ References
No definition available.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of financing receivables (examples of financing receivables include loans, trade accounts receivable and notes receivable) and activity in the allowance for credit losses account.
+ References
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of impaired financing receivables.
+ References
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of financing receivables that are past due but not impaired, financing receivables that are 90 days past due and still accruing, and financing receivables on nonaccrual status.
+ References
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of nonaccrual and past due financing receivables (such as loans and trade receivables), including: (a) the recorded investment in loans and trade receivables, if applicable, on nonaccrual status as of each balance sheet date (b) the recorded investment in loans and trade receivables, if applicable, past due 90 days or more and still accruing.
+ References
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of financing receivables and troubled debt restructurings.
+ References
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