| **Financing Activities (Details 2) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified** | 6 Months Ended |        |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|--------|
||
| **Financing Activities [Abstract]**                                                 |           |   |
| Period after which unpaid installments are considered as past due                   | 30             |   |
| Period after which collection of future income is considered as not probable        | 120            |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Abstract]**                  |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | $ 306          | $ 224  |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 132            | 108    |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 534            | 450    |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 972            | 782    |
| Current                                                                             | 25,744         | 24,343 |
| Total Finance Receivables                                                           | 26,716         | 25,125 |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 41             | 66     |
| Investment in loans and finance leases on non-accrual status                        | 648            | 472    |
| North America                                                                       |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Abstract]**                  |           |   |
| Total Finance Receivables                                                           | 9,953          | 9,923  |
| Europe                                                                              |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Abstract]**                  |           |   |
| Total Finance Receivables                                                           | 3,128          | 2,960  |
| Asia/Pacific                                                                        |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Abstract]**                  |           |   |
| Total Finance Receivables                                                           | 4,771          | 4,192  |
| Mining                                                                              |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Abstract]**                  |           |   |
| Total Finance Receivables                                                           | 1,725          | 1,485  |
| Latin America                                                                       |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Abstract]**                  |           |   |
| Total Finance Receivables                                                           | 3,943          | 3,616  |
| Caterpillar Power Finance                                                           |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Abstract]**                  |           |   |
| Total Finance Receivables                                                           | 3,196          | 2,949  |
| Customer                                                                            |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Abstract]**                  |           |   |
| Total Finance Receivables                                                           | 18,871         | 17,998 |
| Customer | North America                                                            |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Abstract]**                  |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 41             | 75     |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 17             | 39     |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 89             | 111    |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 147            | 225    |
| Current                                                                             | 5,572          | 5,448  |
| Total Finance Receivables                                                           | 5,719          | 5,673  |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 1              | 9      |
| Investment in loans and finance leases on non-accrual status                        | 92             | 112    |
| Customer | Europe                                                                   |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Abstract]**                  |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 32             | 27     |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 27             | 11     |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 56             | 57     |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 115            | 95     |
| Current                                                                             | 2,204          | 2,129  |
| Total Finance Receivables                                                           | 2,319          | 2,224  |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 10             | 10     |
| Investment in loans and finance leases on non-accrual status                        | 48             | 58     |
| Customer | Asia/Pacific                                                             |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Abstract]**                  |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 82             | 48     |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 29             | 23     |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 42             | 38     |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 153            | 109    |
| Current                                                                             | 3,209          | 3,102  |
| Total Finance Receivables                                                           | 3,362          | 3,211  |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 15             | 14     |
| Investment in loans and finance leases on non-accrual status                        | 30             | 24     |
| Customer | Mining                                                                   |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Abstract]**                  |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 4              | 0      |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 12             | 12     |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 16             | 12     |
| Current                                                                             | 1,708          | 1,473  |
| Total Finance Receivables                                                           | 1,724          | 1,485  |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 0              | 0      |
| Investment in loans and finance leases on non-accrual status                        | 12             | 12     |
| Customer | Latin America                                                            |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Abstract]**                  |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 45             | 32     |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 23             | 15     |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 157            | 99     |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 225            | 146    |
| Current                                                                             | 2,354          | 2,339  |
| Total Finance Receivables                                                           | 2,579          | 2,485  |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 0              | 0      |
| Investment in loans and finance leases on non-accrual status                        | 169            | 108    |
| Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance                                                |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Abstract]**                  |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 83             | 14     |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 32             | 16     |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 177            | 125    |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 292            | 155    |
| Current                                                                             | 2,876          | 2,765  |
| Total Finance Receivables                                                           | 3,168          | 2,920  |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 14             | 25     |
| Investment in loans and finance leases on non-accrual status                        | 297            | 158    |
| Dealer                                                                              |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Abstract]**                  |           |   |
| Total Finance Receivables                                                           | 4,719          | 3,973  |
| Investment in loans and finance leases on non-accrual status                        | 0              | 0      |
| Dealer | North America                                                              |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Abstract]**                  |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 0              | 2      |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 0              | 2      |
| Current                                                                             | 2,411          | 2,412  |
| Total Finance Receivables                                                           | 2,411          | 2,414  |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 0              | 2      |
| Dealer | Europe                                                                     |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Abstract]**                  |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 0              | 0      |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 0              | 0      |
| Current                                                                             | 425            | 334    |
| Total Finance Receivables                                                           | 425            | 334    |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 0              | 0      |
| Dealer | Asia/Pacific                                                               |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Abstract]**                  |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 0              | 0      |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 0              | 0      |
| Current                                                                             | 991            | 516    |
| Total Finance Receivables                                                           | 991            | 516    |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 0              | 0      |
| Dealer | Mining                                                                     |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Abstract]**                  |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 0              | 0      |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 0              | 0      |
| Current                                                                             | 1              | 0      |
| Total Finance Receivables                                                           | 1              | 0      |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 0              | 0      |
| Dealer | Latin America                                                              |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Abstract]**                  |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 0              | 0      |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 0              | 0      |
| Current                                                                             | 891            | 709    |
| Total Finance Receivables                                                           | 891            | 709    |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 0              | 0      |
| Dealer | Caterpillar Power Finance                                                  |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Abstract]**                  |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 0              | 0      |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 0              | 0      |
| Current                                                                             | 0              | 0      |
| Total Finance Receivables                                                           | 0              | 0      |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 0              | 0      |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables                                                   |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Abstract]**                  |           |   |
| Total Finance Receivables                                                           | 3,126          | 3,154  |
| Investment in loans and finance leases on non-accrual status                        | 0              | 0      |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America                                   |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Abstract]**                  |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 16             | 25     |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 4              | 4      |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 1              | 6      |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 21             | 35     |
| Current                                                                             | 1,802          | 1,801  |
| Total Finance Receivables                                                           | 1,823          | 1,836  |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 1              | 6      |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Europe                                          |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Abstract]**                  |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 1              | 3      |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 0              | 0      |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 1              | 3      |
| Current                                                                             | 383            | 399    |
| Total Finance Receivables                                                           | 384            | 402    |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 0              | 0      |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific                                    |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Abstract]**                  |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 0              | 0      |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 0              | 0      |
| Current                                                                             | 418            | 465    |
| Total Finance Receivables                                                           | 418            | 465    |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 0              | 0      |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Mining                                          |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Abstract]**                  |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 0              | 0      |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 0              | 0      |
| Current                                                                             | 0              | 0      |
| Total Finance Receivables                                                           | 0              | 0      |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 0              | 0      |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America                                   |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Abstract]**                  |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 0              | 0      |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 0              | 0      |
| Current                                                                             | 473            | 422    |
| Total Finance Receivables                                                           | 473            | 422    |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 0              | 0      |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Caterpillar Power Finance                       |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due [Abstract]**                  |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 2              | 0      |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 0              | 0      |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 2              | 0      |
| Current                                                                             | 26             | 29     |
| Total Finance Receivables                                                           | 28             | 29     |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | $ 0            | $ 0    |

| X                                                                                                                                                         |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**cfsc_FinancingActivitiesAbstract**Namespace Prefix:**cfsc_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Financing receivables that are less than 61 days past due but more than 30 days past due.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**cfsc_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment31To60DaysPastDue**Namespace Prefix:**cfsc_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Financing receivables that are less than 91 days past due but more than 60 days past due.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**cfsc_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment61To90DaysPastDue**Namespace Prefix:**cfsc_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Recorded investment in financing receivables that are 91 days or more past due and still accruing.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**cfsc_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment91DaysPastDueAndStillAccruing**Namespace Prefix:**cfsc_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Financing receivables that are more than 91 days past due.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**cfsc_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentGreaterThan91DaysPastDue**Namespace Prefix:**cfsc_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
This element represents the period after which collection of future income is considered as not probable.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**cfsc_PeriodAfterWhichCollectionOfFutureIncomeIsConsideredAsNotProbable**Namespace Prefix:**cfsc_**Data Type:**xbrli:integerItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
This element represents the period after which the unpaid contractual payments are considered as past due.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**cfsc_PeriodAfterWhichUnpaidInstallmentsAreConsideredAsPastDue**Namespace Prefix:**cfsc_**Data Type:**xbrli:integerItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The amount of the recorded investment in a contractual right to receive money on demand or on fixed or determinable dates that is recognized as an asset in the creditor's statement of financial position. Examples include, but are not limited to, accounts receivable (with terms exceeding one year), notes receivable and receivables relating to lessor's rights to payments from leases other than operating leases that have been recorded as assets.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Glossary Financing Receivable -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6953735
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_FinancingReceivable**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Financing receivables that are current.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 7A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=SL6953401-111524
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentCurrent**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Recorded Investment in financing receivables that are past due at the balance sheet date.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 7A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=SL6953401-111524
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentPastDue**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentPastDueAbstract**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Reflects the carrying amount of loans deemed to be questionable as to collection on which interest is continuing to be earned or accrued.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableImpairedNonperformingAccrualOfInterest**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |