| **Finance Receivables (Tables)**                                                             | 9 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
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| **Receivables [Abstract]**                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| Summary of finance receivables included in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position | A summary of finance receivables included in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position was as follows:(Millions of dollars) September 30, 2016 December 31, 2015Finance leases and installment sale contracts – Retail $13,766 $13,728Retail notes receivable 10,492 10,616Wholesale notes receivable 3,365 3,887Finance leases and installment sale contracts – Wholesale 155 289  27,778 28,520Less: Unearned income (776) (794)Recorded investment in finance receivables 27,002 27,726Less: Allowance for credit losses (346) (338)Total finance receivables, net $26,656$27,388                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| Allowance for credit losses and recorded investment in finance receivables                   | An analysis of the allowance for credit losses was as follows:(Millions of dollars)        September 30, 2016Allowance for Credit Losses:Customer Dealer CaterpillarPurchased Receivables TotalBalance at beginning of year$327 $9 $2 $338Receivables written off(118) — — (118)Recoveries on receivables previously written off25 — — 25Provision for credit losses93 2 — 95Adjustment due to sale of receivables(1) — — (1)Foreign currency translation adjustment7 — — 7Balance at end of period$333 $11 $2 $346        Individually evaluated for impairment$85 $— $— $85Collectively evaluated for impairment248 11 2 261Ending Balance$333 $11 $2 $346        Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables:       Individually evaluated for impairment$819 $— $— $819Collectively evaluated for impairment19,155 4,795 2,233 26,183Ending Balance$19,974 $4,795 $2,233 $27,002        (Millions of dollars)        December 31, 2015Allowance for Credit Losses:Customer Dealer CaterpillarPurchased Receivables TotalBalance at beginning of year$388 $10 $3 $401Receivables written off(196) — — (196)Recoveries on receivables previously written off41 — — 41Provision for credit losses119 (1) (1) 117Adjustment due to sale of receivables(2) — — (2)Foreign currency translation adjustment(23) — — (23)Balance at end of year$327 $9 $2 $338        Individually evaluated for impairment$65 $— $— $65Collectively evaluated for impairment262 9 2 273Ending Balance$327 $9 $2 $338        Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables:       Individually evaluated for impairment$601 $— $— $601Collectively evaluated for impairment19,431 5,093 2,601 27,125Ending Balance$20,032 $5,093 $2,601 $27,726                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
| Aging related to finance receivables                                                         | The tables below summarize our recorded investment of finance receivables by aging category.(Millions of dollars)              September 30, 2016 31-60DaysPast Due 61-90DaysPast Due 91+DaysPast Due TotalPast Due Current RecordedInvestment inFinance Receivables 91+ Still AccruingCustomer             North America$66 $18 $72 $156 $7,983 $8,139 $10Europe21 16 83 120 2,424 2,544 47Asia/Pacific30 10 20 60 2,057 2,117 4Mining4 1 63 68 1,802 1,870 —Latin America57 39 222 318 1,866 2,184 —Caterpillar Power Finance1 5 72 78 3,042 3,120 12Dealer             North America— — — — 2,971 2,971 —Europe— — — — 337 337 —Asia/Pacific— — — — 659 659 —Mining— — — — 7 7 —Latin America— — — — 819 819 —Caterpillar Power Finance— — — — 2 2 —Caterpillar Purchased Receivables             North America9 4 2 15 1,292 1,307 2Europe1 — 1 2 273 275 —Asia/Pacific— — — — 348 348 —Mining— — — — — — —Latin America— — — — 300 300 —Caterpillar Power Finance— — — — 3 3 —Total$189 $93 $535 $817 $26,185 $27,002 $75               (Millions of dollars)              December 31, 2015 31-60DaysPast Due 61-90DaysPast Due 91+DaysPast Due TotalPast Due Current RecordedInvestment inFinance Receivables 91+ Still AccruingCustomer             North America$45 $12 $30 $87 $8,031 $8,118 $4Europe18 7 44 69 2,358 2,427 9Asia/Pacific22 12 21 55 2,108 2,163 6Mining6 1 68 75 1,793 1,868 1Latin America45 31 199 275 1,998 2,273 —Caterpillar Power Finance— 1 35 36 3,147 3,183 2Dealer             North America— — — — 3,387 3,387 —Europe— — — — 330 330 —Asia/Pacific— — — — 611 611 —Mining— — — — 4 4 —Latin America— — — — 758 758 —Caterpillar Power Finance— — — — 3 3 —Caterpillar Purchased Receivables             North America16 5 1 22 1,386 1,408 1Europe4 — 4 8 307 315 3Asia/Pacific— — — — 407 407 —Mining— — — — — — —Latin America— — — — 454 454 —Caterpillar Power Finance— 1 — 1 16 17 —Total$156 $70 $402 $628 $27,098 $27,726 $26                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
| Impaired finance receivables                                                                 | Our recorded investment in impaired finance receivables and the related unpaid principal balances and allowance for the Customer portfolio segment were as follows:(Millions of dollars)            As of September 30, 2016 As of December 31, 2015Impaired Finance Receivables WithNo Allowance RecordedRecordedInvestment UnpaidPrincipalBalance RelatedAllowance RecordedInvestment UnpaidPrincipalBalance RelatedAllowanceNorth America$21 $21 $— $12 $12 $—Europe49 48 — 41 41 —Asia/Pacific2 2 — 1 1 —Mining119 118 — 84 84 —Latin America73 73 — 28 28 —Caterpillar Power Finance290 289 — 242 241 —Total$554 $551 $— $408 $407 $—Impaired Finance Receivables WithAn Allowance Recorded           North America$50 $48 $19 $14 $13 $4Europe9 9 5 11 10 5Asia/Pacific33 33 5 34 34 4Mining38 38 6 11 11 3Latin America91 103 33 53 53 21Caterpillar Power Finance44 44 17 70 70 28Total$265 $275 $85 $193 $191 $65Total Impaired Finance Receivables           North America$71 $69 $19 $26 $25 $4Europe58 57 5 52 51 5Asia/Pacific35 35 5 35 35 4Mining157 156 6 95 95 3Latin America164 176 33 81 81 21Caterpillar Power Finance334 333 17 312 311 28Total$819 $826 $85 $601 $598 $65             (Millions of dollars)        Three Months EndedSeptember 30, 2016 Three Months EndedSeptember 30, 2015Impaired Finance Receivables With No Allowance RecordedAverageRecordedInvestment InterestIncomeRecognized AverageRecordedInvestment InterestIncomeRecognizedNorth America$24 $— $10 $1Europe49 1 43 —Asia/Pacific1 — 1 —Mining90 2 63 —Latin America58 — 32 —Caterpillar Power Finance282 3 165 1Total$504 $6 $314 $2Impaired Finance Receivables With An Allowance Recorded       North America$42 $— $10 $—Europe10 — 15 —Asia/Pacific35 — 63 —Mining19 — 9 —Latin America67 1 69 1Caterpillar Power Finance43 — 125 2Total$216 $1 $291 $3Total Impaired Finance Receivables       North America$66 $— $20 $1Europe59 1 58 —Asia/Pacific36 — 64 —Mining109 2 72 —Latin America125 1 101 1Caterpillar Power Finance325 3 290 3Total$720 $7 $605 $5        (Millions of dollars)        Nine Months EndedSeptember 30, 2016 Nine Months EndedSeptember 30, 2015Impaired Finance Receivables With No Allowance RecordedAverageRecordedInvestment InterestIncomeRecognized AverageRecordedInvestment InterestIncomeRecognizedNorth America$19 $1 $12 $1Europe45 1 43 —Asia/Pacific2 — 2 —Mining84 3 80 3Latin America39 — 32 —Caterpillar Power Finance269 8 157 3Total$458 $13 $326 $7Impaired Finance Receivables With An Allowance Recorded       North America$28 $— $7 $—Europe11 — 15 1Asia/Pacific34 2 42 1Mining15 — 47 1Latin America59 2 56 2Caterpillar Power Finance50 1 128 3Total$197 $5 $295 $8Total Impaired Finance Receivables       North America$47 $1 $19 $1Europe56 1 58 1Asia/Pacific36 2 44 1Mining99 3 127 4Latin America98 2 88 2Caterpillar Power Finance319 9 285 6Total$655 $18 $621 $15         |
| Recorded investment in customer finance receivables on non-accrual status                    | The recorded investment in Customer finance receivables on non-accrual status was as follows: (Millions of dollars)    September 30, 2016 December 31, 2015North America$71 $31Europe38 39Asia/Pacific16 15Mining131 106Latin America299 217Caterpillar Power Finance69 77Total$624 $485                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| Finance receivables modified as TDRs                                                         | Finance receivables in the Customer portfolio segment modified as TDRs were as follows:(Dollars in millions)Three Months EndedSeptember 30, 2016 Three Months EndedSeptember 30, 2015 Number ofContracts Pre-TDRRecorded Investment Post-TDRRecorded Investment Number ofContracts Pre-TDRRecorded Investment Post-TDRRecorded InvestmentNorth America2 $— $— 6 $— $—Europe— — — 4 — —Asia/Pacific4 1 1 1 1 1Mining1 33 30 2 15 14Latin America(1)341 105 74 10 1 2Caterpillar Power Finance4 13 13 8 93 79Total352 $152 $118 31 $110 $96             Nine Months EndedSeptember 30, 2016 Nine Months EndedSeptember 30, 2015 Number ofContracts Pre-TDRRecorded Investment Post-TDRRecorded Investment Number ofContracts Pre-TDRRecorded Investment Post-TDRRecorded InvestmentNorth America15 $16 $16 10 $1 $1Europe3 11 8 23 2 2Asia/Pacific8 4 4 21 26 26Mining2 43 35 2 15 14Latin America431 117 87 10 1 2Caterpillar Power Finance34 196 177 12 197 180Total493 $387 $327 78 $242 $225            (1) In Latin America, 321 contracts with a pre-TDR recorded investment of $94 million and a post-TDR recorded investment of $64 million are related to four customers.TDRs in the Customer portfolio segment with a payment default during the three and nine months ended September 30, 2016 and 2015, which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date, were as follows:(Dollars in millions)Three Months EndedSeptember 30, 2016 Three Months EndedSeptember 30, 2015 Number ofContracts Post-TDRRecordedInvestment Number ofContracts Post-TDRRecordedInvestmentNorth America1 $— 5 $—Europe1 — — —Latin America2 — — —Total4 $— 5 $—         Nine Months EndedSeptember 30, 2016 Nine Months EndedSeptember 30, 2015 Number ofContracts Post-TDRRecordedInvestment Number ofContracts Post-TDRRecordedInvestmentNorth America14 $3 10 $1Europe14 1 — —Asia/Pacific3 — — —Latin America4 — 1 —Total35 $4 11 $1                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |

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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of financing receivables (examples of financing receivables include loans, trade accounts receivable and notes receivable) and activity in the allowance for credit losses account.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 11B -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66008989&loc=SL6953423-111524
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of impaired financing receivables.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of financing receivables that are past due but not impaired, financing receivables that are 90 days past due and still accruing, and financing receivables on nonaccrual status.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the various types of trade accounts and notes receivable and for each the gross carrying value, allowance, and net carrying value as of the balance sheet date. Presentation is categorized by current, noncurrent and unclassified receivables.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of nonaccrual and past due financing receivables (such as loans and trade receivables), including: (a) the recorded investment in loans and trade receivables, if applicable, on nonaccrual status as of each balance sheet date (b) the recorded investment in loans and trade receivables, if applicable, past due 90 days or more and still accruing.
+ References
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of financing receivables and troubled debt restructurings.
+ References
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