| **Finance Receivables (Tables)**                                                             | 3 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)      March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015Finance leases and installment sale contracts – Retail $13,829 $13,728Retail notes receivable 10,602 10,616Wholesale notes receivable 4,207 3,887Finance leases and installment sale contracts – Wholesale 272 289  28,910 28,520Less: Unearned income (776) (794)Recorded investment in finance receivables 28,134 27,726Less: Allowance for credit losses (340) (338)Total finance receivables, net $27,794$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)        March 31, 2016Allowance for Credit Losses:Customer Dealer CaterpillarPurchased Receivables TotalBalance at beginning of year$327 $9 $2 $338Receivables written off(38) — — (38)Recoveries on receivables previously written off7 — — 7Provision for credit losses29 (1) — 28Adjustment due to sale of receivables— — — —Foreign currency translation adjustment5 — — 5Balance at end of period$330 $8 $2 $340        Individually evaluated for impairment$58 $— $— $58Collectively evaluated for impairment272 8 2 282Ending Balance$330 $8 $2 $340        Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables:       Individually evaluated for impairment$606 $— $— $606Collectively evaluated for impairment19,498 5,101 2,929 27,528Ending Balance$20,104 $5,101 $2,929 $28,134        (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)              March 31, 2016 31-60DaysPast Due 61-90DaysPast Due 91+DaysPast Due TotalPast Due Current RecordedInvestment inFinance Receivables 91+ Still AccruingCustomer             North America$62 $29 $30 $121 $8,038 $8,159 $5Europe15 11 64 90 2,364 2,454 12Asia/Pacific36 22 29 87 2,089 2,176 12Mining16 13 62 91 1,691 1,782 1Latin America54 114 243 411 1,916 2,327 1Caterpillar Power Finance5 14 28 47 3,159 3,206 —Dealer             North America— — — — 3,358 3,358 —Europe— — — — 329 329 —Asia/Pacific— — — — 676 676 —Mining— — — — 8 8 —Latin America— — — — 727 727 —Caterpillar Power Finance— — — — 3 3 —Caterpillar Purchased Receivables             North America13 3 1 17 1,651 1,668 1Europe1 — 4 5 368 373 —Asia/Pacific1 — — 1 470 471 —Mining— — — — — — —Latin America— — — — 411 411 —Caterpillar Power Finance— — — — 6 6 —Total$203 $206 $461 $870 $27,264 $28,134 $32               (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 March 31, 2016 As of December 31, 2015Impaired Finance Receivables WithNo Allowance RecordedRecordedInvestment UnpaidPrincipalBalance RelatedAllowance RecordedInvestment UnpaidPrincipalBalance RelatedAllowanceNorth America$20 $20 $— $12 $12 $—Europe39 39 — 41 41 —Asia/Pacific4 4 — 1 1 —Mining79 79 — 84 84 —Latin America27 27 — 28 28 —Caterpillar Power Finance268 267 — 242 241 —Total$437 $436 $— $408 $407 $—Impaired Finance Receivables WithAn Allowance Recorded           North America$15 $13 $4 $14 $13 $4Europe11 11 6 11 10 5Asia/Pacific35 35 5 34 34 4Mining11 11 4 11 11 3Latin America53 53 22 53 53 21Caterpillar Power Finance44 44 17 70 70 28Total$169 $167 $58 $193 $191 $65Total Impaired Finance Receivables           North America$35 $33 $4 $26 $25 $4Europe50 50 6 52 51 5Asia/Pacific39 39 5 35 35 4Mining90 90 4 95 95 3Latin America80 80 22 81 81 21Caterpillar Power Finance312 311 17 312 311 28Total$606 $603 $58 $601 $598 $65             (Millions of dollars)        Three Months EndedMarch 31, 2016 Three Months EndedMarch 31, 2015Impaired Finance Receivables With No Allowance RecordedAverageRecordedInvestment InterestIncomeRecognized AverageRecordedInvestment InterestIncomeRecognizedNorth America$14 $— $14 $—Europe40 — 44 —Asia/Pacific2 — 4 —Mining81 1 102 2Latin America27 — 32 —Caterpillar Power Finance253 3 135 1Total$417 $4 $331 $3Impaired Finance Receivables With An Allowance Recorded       North America$14 $— $6 $—Europe12 — 14 —Asia/Pacific33 1 26 —Mining11 — 63 1Latin America51 1 46 1Caterpillar Power Finance59 — 128 —Total$180 $2 $283 $2Total Impaired Finance Receivables       North America$28 $— $20 $—Europe52 — 58 —Asia/Pacific35 1 30 —Mining92 1 165 3Latin America78 1 78 1Caterpillar Power Finance312 3 263 1Total$597 $6 $614 $5                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| Investment in customer finance receivables on non-accrual status                             | The investment in Customer finance receivables on non-accrual status was as follows: (Millions of dollars)    March 31, 2016 December 31, 2015North America$40 $31Europe56 39Asia/Pacific18 15Mining135 106Latin America262 217Caterpillar Power Finance57 77Total$568 $485                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
| Finance receivables modified as TDRs                                                         | Finance receivables in the Customer portfolio segment modified as TDRs were as follows:(Dollars in millions)Three Months EndedMarch 31, 2016 Three Months EndedMarch 31, 2015 Number ofContracts Pre-TDRRecorded Investment Post-TDRRecorded Investment Number ofContracts Pre-TDRRecorded Investment Post-TDRRecorded InvestmentNorth America11 $10 $10 3 $1 $1Asia/Pacific4 3 3 — — —Latin America2 — — — — —Caterpillar Power Finance4 39 27 2 83 80Total21 $52 $40 5 $84 $81            During the three months ended March 31, 2016, $1 million of additional funds were subsequently loaned to a borrower whose terms had been modified in a TDR. The $1 million of additional funds is not reflected in the table above as no incremental modifications have been made with the borrower during the periods presented.  During the three months ended March 31, 2015, no additional funds were subsequently loaned to a borrower whose terms had been modified in a TDR.TDRs in the Customer portfolio segment with a payment default during the three months ended March 31, 2016 and 2015, which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date, were as follows:(Dollars in millions)Three Months EndedMarch 31, 2016 Three Months EndedMarch 31, 2015 Number ofContracts Post-TDRRecordedInvestment Number ofContracts Post-TDRRecordedInvestmentNorth America4 $— 4 $1Europe13 1 — —Asia/Pacific3 — — —Latin America1 — 1 —Total21 $1 5 $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
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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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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 7 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49124121&loc=d3e5111-111524Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 7A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49124121&loc=SL6953401-111524
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No definition available.
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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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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3,4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682
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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.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of financing receivables and troubled debt restructurings.
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