| **Financing Activities (Details 2) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified**                 | 12 Months Ended |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|
||
| Customer                                                                                            |            |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired**                                                                  |            |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | $ 593           | $ 484 | $ 396 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 584             | 471 | 388 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 54              | 34 | 29 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 520             | 504 | 272 |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 11              | 15 | 8 |
| Customer | Impaired Loans and Finance Leases With No Allowance Recorded                             |            |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired**                                                                  |            |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 378             | 326 | 283 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 377             | 317 | 281 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 0               | 0 | 0 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 332             | 345 | 152 |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 6               | 12 | 2 |
| Customer | Impaired Loans and Finance Leases With An Allowance Recorded                             |            |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired**                                                                  |            |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 215             | 158 | 113 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 207             | 154 | 107 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 54              | 34 | 29 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 188             | 159 | 120 |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 5               | 3 | 6 |
| Customer | North America                                                                            |            |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired**                                                                  |            |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 53              | 106 | 140 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 50              | 100 | 138 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 7               | 6 | 16 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 75              | 147 | 105 |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 4               | 6 | 5 |
| Customer | North America | Impaired Loans and Finance Leases With No Allowance Recorded             |            |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired**                                                                  |            |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 28              | 83 | 87 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 27              | 80 | 87 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 0               | 0 | 0 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 50              | 91 | 39 |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 3               | 4 | 2 |
| Customer | North America | Impaired Loans and Finance Leases With An Allowance Recorded             |            |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired**                                                                  |            |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 25              | 23 | 53 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 23              | 20 | 51 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 7               | 6 | 16 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 25              | 56 | 66 |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 1               | 2 | 3 |
| Customer | Europe                                                                                   |            |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired**                                                                  |            |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 73              | 69 | 32 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 71              | 67 | 26 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 11              | 8 | 6 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 72              | 31 | 28 |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 2               | 0 | 1 |
| Customer | Europe | Impaired Loans and Finance Leases With No Allowance Recorded                    |            |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired**                                                                  |            |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 45              | 47 | 6 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 45              | 46 | 4 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 0               | 0 | 0 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 45              | 11 | 7 |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 1               | 0 | 0 |
| Customer | Europe | Impaired Loans and Finance Leases With An Allowance Recorded                    |            |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired**                                                                  |            |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 28              | 22 | 26 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 26              | 21 | 22 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 11              | 8 | 6 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 27              | 20 | 21 |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 1               | 0 | 1 |
| Customer | Asia/Pacific                                                                             |            |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired**                                                                  |            |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 21              | 13 | 17 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 21              | 13 | 17 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 4               | 3 | 3 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 18              | 16 | 22 |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 1               | 1 | 1 |
| Customer | Asia/Pacific | Impaired Loans and Finance Leases With No Allowance Recorded              |            |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired**                                                                  |            |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 2               | 4 | 5 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 2               | 4 | 5 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 0               | 0 | 0 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 3               | 5 | 6 |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 0               | 0 | 0 |
| Customer | Asia/Pacific | Impaired Loans and Finance Leases With An Allowance Recorded              |            |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired**                                                                  |            |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 19              | 9 | 12 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 19              | 9 | 12 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 4               | 3 | 3 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 15              | 11 | 16 |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 1               | 1 | 1 |
| Customer | Mining                                                                                   |            |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired**                                                                  |            |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 1               | 8 | 8 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 1               | 8 | 8 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 0               | 0 | 0 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 8               | 8 | 9 |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 0               | 1 | 1 |
| Customer | Mining | Impaired Loans and Finance Leases With No Allowance Recorded                    |            |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired**                                                                  |            |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 1               | 8 | 8 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 1               | 8 | 8 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 0               | 0 | 0 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 8               | 8 | 3 |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 0               | 1 | 0 |
| Customer | Mining | Impaired Loans and Finance Leases With An Allowance Recorded                    |            |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired**                                                                  |            |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 0               | 0 | 0 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 0               | 0 | 0 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 0               | 0 | 0 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 0               | 0 | 6 |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 0               | 0 | 1 |
| Customer | Latin America                                                                            |            |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired**                                                                  |            |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 37              | 28 | 13 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 37              | 28 | 13 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 8               | 4 | 2 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 33              | 20 | 10 |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 2               | 1 | 0 |
| Customer | Latin America | Impaired Loans and Finance Leases With No Allowance Recorded             |            |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired**                                                                  |            |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 7               | 9 | 3 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 7               | 9 | 3 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 0               | 0 | 0 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 6               | 9 | 5 |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 0               | 1 | 0 |
| Customer | Latin America | Impaired Loans and Finance Leases With An Allowance Recorded             |            |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired**                                                                  |            |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 30              | 19 | 10 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 30              | 19 | 10 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 8               | 4 | 2 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 27              | 11 | 5 |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 2               | 0 | 0 |
| Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance                                                                |            |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired**                                                                  |            |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 408             | 260 | 186 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 404             | 255 | 186 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 24              | 13 | 2 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 314             | 282 | 98 |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 2               | 6 | 0 |
| Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance | Impaired Loans and Finance Leases With No Allowance Recorded |            |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired**                                                                  |            |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 295             | 175 | 174 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 295             | 170 | 174 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 0               | 0 | 0 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 220             | 221 | 92 |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 2               | 6 | 0 |
| Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance | Impaired Loans and Finance Leases With An Allowance Recorded |            |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired**                                                                  |            |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 113             | 85 | 12 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 109             | 85 | 12 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 24              | 13 | 2 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 94              | 61 | 6 |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 0               | 0 | 0 |
| Dealer                                                                                              |            |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired**                                                                  |            |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 0               | 0 | 0 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 0               | 0 | 6 |
| Dealer | Europe                                                                                     |            |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired**                                                                  |            |   |   |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         |            |   | 6 |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables                                                                   |            |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired**                                                                  |            |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 0               | 0 | 0 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | $ 0             | $ 0 | $ 0 |

| X                                                                                                                                                                        |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_FinancingReceivableImpairedLineItems**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Average amount of investment of impaired financing receivables with related allowance for credit losses and without a related allowance for credit losses.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (c)(1) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=d3e5212-111524Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 17 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=d3e5258-111524
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_ImpairedFinancingReceivableAverageRecordedInvestment**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of interest income recognized on a cash-basis method of accounting that the financing receivables (with related allowance for credit losses and without a related allowance for credit losses) were impaired.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (c)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=d3e5212-111524
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_ImpairedFinancingReceivableInterestIncomeCashBasisMethod**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of investment of impaired financing receivables with related allowance for credit losses and without a related allowance for credit losses.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 14A -Subparagraph (b) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=SL6953550-111524
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_ImpairedFinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of allowance for credit losses related to recorded investment.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (a)(3) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=d3e5212-111524
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_ImpairedFinancingReceivableRelatedAllowance**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**credit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of unpaid principal balance of impaired financing receivables with related allowance for credit losses and without related allowance for credit losses.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (a)(4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=d3e5212-111524
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_ImpairedFinancingReceivableUnpaidPrincipalBalance**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |