| **Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income/(Loss) (Details 2) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified**                           | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|-----------------|
||
| Other income (expense)                                                                                                                 |           |            |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | $ (18) |  | $ (7) |  | $ (9) |  |
| Interest Expense                                                                                                                       |           |            |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | 734 |  | 801 |  | 827 |  |
| Tax (provision) benefit                                                                                                                |           |            |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | 174 |  | 148 |  | 111 |  |
| Total reclassifications from Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)                                                             | 160            | 118             | 111 | 141 | 99 | 109 | 104 | 120 | 95 | 93 | 107 | 83 | 530 | [1] | 432 | [1] | 378 | [1] |
| Reclassifications out of Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) | Derivative financial instruments                              |           |            |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |  |   |  |   |  |
| Reclassifications before tax                                                                                                           |           |            |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | (6) |  |   |  |   |  |
| Tax (provision) benefit                                                                                                                |           |            |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | 2 |  |   |  |   |  |
| Total reclassifications from Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss)                                                             |           |            |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | (4) |  |   |  |   |  |
| Reclassifications out of Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) | Derivative financial instruments | Foreign exchange contracts |           |            |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |  |   |  |   |  |
| Other income (expense)                                                                                                                 |           |            |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | 0 |  |   |  |   |  |
| Reclassifications out of Accumulated other comprehensive income/(loss) | Derivative financial instruments | Interest rate contracts    |           |            |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |  |   |  |   |  |
| Interest Expense                                                                                                                       |           |            |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   | $ (6) |  |   |  |   |  |
|                                                                                                                                        |
| [1]Profit attributable to Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation.                                                                  |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
This element represents the income or loss from continuing operations attributable to the economic entity which may also be defined as revenue less expenses and taxes from ongoing operations before extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.
+ References
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of current income tax expense (benefit) and deferred income tax expense (benefit) pertaining to continuing operations.
+ References
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of the cost of borrowed funds accounted for as interest expense.
+ References
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|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.
+ References
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The net amount of other income and expense amounts, the components of which are not separately disclosed on the income statement, resulting from ancillary business-related activities (that is, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business) also known as other nonoperating income (expense) recognized for the period. Such amounts may include: (a) dividends, (b) interest on securities, (c) net gains or losses on securities, (d) unusual costs, (e) gains or losses on foreign exchange transactions, and (f) miscellaneous other income and expense items.
+ References
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