| **Financing Activities (Details) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified**                   | 3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended |        |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|----------------|--------|
||
| Customer                                                                                            |           |           |   |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]**                                                     |           |           |   |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | $ 632          |           | $ 632  |   | $ 575 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 618            |           | 618    |   | 557 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 61             |           | 61     |   | 56 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 618            | 748            | 596    | 716 |   |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 4              | 5              | 7      | 11 |   |
| Customer | Impaired Loans and Finance Leases With No Allowance Recorded                             |           |           |   |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]**                                                     |           |           |   |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 282            |           | 282    |   | 326 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 278            |           | 278    |   | 317 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 0              |           | 0      |   | 0 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 321            | 397            | 316    | 355 |   |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 1              | 1              | 3      | 3 |   |
| Customer | Impaired Loans and Finance Leases With An Allowance Recorded                             |           |           |   |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]**                                                     |           |           |   |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 350            |           | 350    |   | 249 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 340            |           | 340    |   | 240 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 61             |           | 61     |   | 56 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 297            | 351            | 280    | 361 |   |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 3              | 4              | 4      | 8 |   |
| Customer | North America                                                                            |           |           |   |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]**                                                     |           |           |   |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 104            |           | 104    |   | 152 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 97             |           | 97     |   | 144 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 12             |           | 12     |   | 15 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 123            | 266            | 132    | 273 |   |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 1              | 3              | 2      | 6 |   |
| Customer | North America | Impaired Loans and Finance Leases With No Allowance Recorded             |           |           |   |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]**                                                     |           |           |   |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 46             |           | 46     |   | 83 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 44             |           | 44     |   | 80 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 0              |           | 0      |   | 0 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 57             | 104            | 63     | 97 |   |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 0              | 1              | 1      | 2 |   |
| Customer | North America | Impaired Loans and Finance Leases With An Allowance Recorded             |           |           |   |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]**                                                     |           |           |   |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 58             |           | 58     |   | 69 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 53             |           | 53     |   | 64 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 12             |           | 12     |   | 15 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 66             | 162            | 69     | 176 |   |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 1              | 2              | 1      | 4 |   |
| Customer | Europe                                                                                   |           |           |   |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]**                                                     |           |           |   |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 83             |           | 83     |   | 83 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 82             |           | 82     |   | 79 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 11             |           | 11     |   | 12 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 85             | 61             | 85     | 65 |   |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 0              | 0              | 0      | 1 |   |
| Customer | Europe | Impaired Loans and Finance Leases With No Allowance Recorded                    |           |           |   |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]**                                                     |           |           |   |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 45             |           | 45     |   | 47 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 44             |           | 44     |   | 46 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 0              |           | 0      |   | 0 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 45             | 8              | 45     | 7 |   |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 0              | 0              | 0      | 0 |   |
| Customer | Europe | Impaired Loans and Finance Leases With An Allowance Recorded                    |           |           |   |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]**                                                     |           |           |   |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 38             |           | 38     |   | 36 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 38             |           | 38     |   | 33 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 11             |           | 11     |   | 12 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 40             | 53             | 40     | 58 |   |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 0              | 0              | 0      | 1 |   |
| Customer | Asia/Pacific                                                                             |           |           |   |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]**                                                     |           |           |   |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 31             |           | 31     |   | 17 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 31             |           | 31     |   | 17 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 4              |           | 4      |   | 3 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 27             | 24             | 25     | 27 |   |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 0              | 1              | 1      | 1 |   |
| Customer | Asia/Pacific | Impaired Loans and Finance Leases With No Allowance Recorded              |           |           |   |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]**                                                     |           |           |   |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 3              |           | 3      |   | 4 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 3              |           | 3      |   | 4 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 0              |           | 0      |   | 0 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 3              | 6              | 3      | 5 |   |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 0              | 0              | 0      | 0 |   |
| Customer | Asia/Pacific | Impaired Loans and Finance Leases With An Allowance Recorded              |           |           |   |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]**                                                     |           |           |   |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 28             |           | 28     |   | 13 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 28             |           | 28     |   | 13 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 4              |           | 4      |   | 3 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 24             | 18             | 22     | 22 |   |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 0              | 1              | 1      | 1 |   |
| Customer | Mining                                                                                   |           |           |   |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]**                                                     |           |           |   |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 77             |           | 77     |   | 21 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 76             |           | 76     |   | 21 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 7              |           | 7      |   | 4 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 49             | 8              | 37     | 8 |   |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 1              | 0              | 1      | 0 |   |
| Customer | Mining | Impaired Loans and Finance Leases With No Allowance Recorded                    |           |           |   |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]**                                                     |           |           |   |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 8              |           | 8      |   | 8 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 8              |           | 8      |   | 8 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 0              |           | 0      |   | 0 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 8              | 8              | 8      | 8 |   |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 0              | 0              | 0      | 0 |   |
| Customer | Mining | Impaired Loans and Finance Leases With An Allowance Recorded                    |           |           |   |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]**                                                     |           |           |   |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 69             |           | 69     |   | 13 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 68             |           | 68     |   | 13 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 7              |           | 7      |   | 4 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 41             | 0              | 29     | 0 |   |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 1              | 0              | 1      | 0 |   |
| Customer | Latin America                                                                            |           |           |   |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]**                                                     |           |           |   |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 50             |           | 50     |   | 34 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 50             |           | 50     |   | 34 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 7              |           | 7      |   | 6 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 45             | 56             | 39     | 53 |   |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 1              | 1              | 1      | 2 |   |
| Customer | Latin America | Impaired Loans and Finance Leases With No Allowance Recorded             |           |           |   |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]**                                                     |           |           |   |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 5              |           | 5      |   | 9 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 5              |           | 5      |   | 9 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 0              |           | 0      |   | 0 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 5              | 10             | 6      | 7 |   |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 0              | 0              | 0      | 0 |   |
| Customer | Latin America | Impaired Loans and Finance Leases With An Allowance Recorded             |           |           |   |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]**                                                     |           |           |   |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 45             |           | 45     |   | 25 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 45             |           | 45     |   | 25 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 7              |           | 7      |   | 6 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 40             | 46             | 33     | 46 |   |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 1              | 1              | 1      | 2 |   |
| Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance                                                                |           |           |   |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]**                                                     |           |           |   |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 287            |           | 287    |   | 268 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 282            |           | 282    |   | 262 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 20             |           | 20     |   | 16 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 289            | 333            | 278    | 290 |   |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 1              | 0              | 2      | 1 |   |
| Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance | Impaired Loans and Finance Leases With No Allowance Recorded |           |           |   |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]**                                                     |           |           |   |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 175            |           | 175    |   | 175 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 174            |           | 174    |   | 170 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 0              |           | 0      |   | 0 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 203            | 261            | 191    | 231 |   |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 1              | 0              | 2      | 1 |   |
| Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance | Impaired Loans and Finance Leases With An Allowance Recorded |           |           |   |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]**                                                     |           |           |   |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 112            |           | 112    |   | 93 |
| Unpaid Principal Balance                                                                            | 108            |           | 108    |   | 92 |
| Related Allowance                                                                                   | 20             |           | 20     |   | 16 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 86             | 72             | 87     | 59 |   |
| Interest Income Recognized                                                                          | 0              | 0              | 0      | 0 |   |
| Dealer                                                                                              |           |           |   |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]**                                                     |           |           |   |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 0              |           | 0      |   | 0 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | 0              | 0              | 0      | 0 |   |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables                                                                   |           |           |   |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Impaired [Line Items]**                                                     |           |           |   |   |   |
| Recorded Investment                                                                                 | 0              |           | 0      |   | 0 |
| Average Recorded Investment                                                                         | $ 0            | $ 0            | $ 0    | $ 0 |   |

| X                                                                                                                                                                        |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_FinancingReceivableImpairedLineItems**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The average recorded investment related to impaired financing receivables.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=d3e5212-111524 -Subparagraph (c)(1)Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 17 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=d3e5258-111524
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The interest income recognized on a cash-basis method of accounting during the time within that period that the financing receivables were impaired.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=d3e5212-111524 -Subparagraph (c)(3)
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The recorded investment related to impaired financing receivables.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 14A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=SL6953550-111524 -Subparagraph (b)
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_ImpairedFinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of allowance for credit losses related to recorded investment.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=d3e5212-111524 -Subparagraph (a)(3)
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The unpaid principal balance related to impaired financing receivables.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 15 -Subparagraph (a)(4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6965416&loc=d3e5212-111524
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