| **Financing Activities (Details 4) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified** | Jun. 30, 2012 | Dec. 31, 2011 |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|---------------|---------------|
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | $ 26,716      | $ 25,125      |
| Performing                                                                          |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 26,068        | 24,653        |
| Nonperforming                                                                       |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 648           | 472           |
| North America                                                                       |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 9,953         | 9,923         |
| North America | Performing                                                          |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 9,861         | 9,811         |
| North America | Nonperforming                                                       |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 92            | 112           |
| Europe                                                                              |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 3,128         | 2,960         |
| Europe | Performing                                                                 |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 3,080         | 2,902         |
| Europe | Nonperforming                                                              |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 48            | 58            |
| Asia/Pacific                                                                        |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 4,771         | 4,192         |
| Asia/Pacific | Performing                                                           |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 4,741         | 4,168         |
| Asia/Pacific | Nonperforming                                                        |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 30            | 24            |
| Mining                                                                              |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 1,725         | 1,485         |
| Mining | Performing                                                                 |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 1,713         | 1,473         |
| Mining | Nonperforming                                                              |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 12            | 12            |
| Latin America                                                                       |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 3,943         | 3,616         |
| Latin America | Performing                                                          |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 3,774         | 3,508         |
| Latin America | Nonperforming                                                       |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 169           | 108           |
| Caterpillar Power Finance                                                           |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 3,196         | 2,949         |
| Caterpillar Power Finance | Performing                                              |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 2,899         | 2,791         |
| Caterpillar Power Finance | Nonperforming                                           |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 297           | 158           |
| Customer                                                                            |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 18,871        | 17,998        |
| Customer | Performing                                                               |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 18,223        | 17,526        |
| Customer | Nonperforming                                                            |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 648           | 472           |
| Customer | North America                                                            |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 5,719         | 5,673         |
| Customer | North America | Performing                                               |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 5,627         | 5,561         |
| Customer | North America | Nonperforming                                            |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 92            | 112           |
| Customer | Europe                                                                   |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 2,319         | 2,224         |
| Customer | Europe | Performing                                                      |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 2,271         | 2,166         |
| Customer | Europe | Nonperforming                                                   |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 48            | 58            |
| Customer | Asia/Pacific                                                             |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 3,362         | 3,211         |
| Customer | Asia/Pacific | Performing                                                |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 3,332         | 3,187         |
| Customer | Asia/Pacific | Nonperforming                                             |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 30            | 24            |
| Customer | Mining                                                                   |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 1,724         | 1,485         |
| Customer | Mining | Performing                                                      |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 1,712         | 1,473         |
| Customer | Mining | Nonperforming                                                   |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 12            | 12            |
| Customer | Latin America                                                            |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 2,579         | 2,485         |
| Customer | Latin America | Performing                                               |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 2,410         | 2,377         |
| Customer | Latin America | Nonperforming                                            |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 169           | 108           |
| Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance                                                |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 3,168         | 2,920         |
| Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance | Performing                                   |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 2,871         | 2,762         |
| Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance | Nonperforming                                |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 297           | 158           |
| Dealer                                                                              |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 4,719         | 3,973         |
| Dealer | Performing                                                                 |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 4,719         | 3,973         |
| Dealer | Nonperforming                                                              |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 0             | 0             |
| Dealer | North America                                                              |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 2,411         | 2,414         |
| Dealer | North America | Performing                                                 |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 2,411         | 2,414         |
| Dealer | North America | Nonperforming                                              |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 0             | 0             |
| Dealer | Europe                                                                     |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 425           | 334           |
| Dealer | Europe | Performing                                                        |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 425           | 334           |
| Dealer | Europe | Nonperforming                                                     |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 0             | 0             |
| Dealer | Asia/Pacific                                                               |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 991           | 516           |
| Dealer | Asia/Pacific | Performing                                                  |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 991           | 516           |
| Dealer | Asia/Pacific | Nonperforming                                               |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 0             | 0             |
| Dealer | Mining                                                                     |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 1             | 0             |
| Dealer | Mining | Performing                                                        |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 1             | 0             |
| Dealer | Mining | Nonperforming                                                     |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 0             | 0             |
| Dealer | Latin America                                                              |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 891           | 709           |
| Dealer | Latin America | Performing                                                 |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 891           | 709           |
| Dealer | Latin America | Nonperforming                                              |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 0             | 0             |
| Dealer | Caterpillar Power Finance                                                  |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 0             | 0             |
| Dealer | Caterpillar Power Finance | Performing                                     |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 0             | 0             |
| Dealer | Caterpillar Power Finance | Nonperforming                                  |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 0             | 0             |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables                                                   |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 3,126         | 3,154         |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Performing                                      |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 3,126         | 3,154         |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Nonperforming                                   |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 0             | 0             |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America                                   |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 1,823         | 1,836         |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | Performing                      |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 1,823         | 1,836         |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | Nonperforming                   |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 0             | 0             |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Europe                                          |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 384           | 402           |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Europe | Performing                             |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 384           | 402           |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Europe | Nonperforming                          |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 0             | 0             |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific                                    |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 418           | 465           |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific | Performing                       |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 418           | 465           |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific | Nonperforming                    |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 0             | 0             |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Mining                                          |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 0             | 0             |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Mining | Performing                             |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 0             | 0             |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Mining | Nonperforming                          |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 0             | 0             |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America                                   |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 473           | 422           |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America | Performing                      |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 473           | 422           |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America | Nonperforming                   |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 0             | 0             |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Caterpillar Power Finance                       |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 28            | 29            |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Caterpillar Power Finance | Performing          |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | 28            | 29            |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Caterpillar Power Finance | Nonperforming       |          |          |
| **Recorded investment in finance receivables**                                      |          |          |
| Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance                          | $ 0           | $ 0           |

| 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                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentLineItems**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |