| **Financing Activities (Details 4) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified**     | 12 Months Ended |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|
||
| **Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses**                                   |            |   |   |
| Balance at beginning of year                                                            | $ 369           | $ 363 | $ 377 |
| Adjustment to adopt consolidation of variable-interest entities                         |            |   | 18 |
| Receivables written off                                                                 | (149)           | (210) | (288) |
| Recoveries on receivables previously written off                                        | 47              | 52 | 51 |
| Provision for credit losses                                                             | 160             | 170 | 205 |
| Adjustment due to sale of receivables                                                   | (2)             | (3) | 0 |
| Foreign currency translation adjustment                                                 | 1               | (3) | 0 |
| Balance at end of year                                                                  | 426             | 369 | 363 |
| Allowance for credit losses as a percent of finance receivables, net of unearned income |            |   | 1.57% |
| **Allowance for Credit Losses**                                                         |            |   |   |
| Individually evaluated for impairment                                                   | 54              | 34 | 29 |
| Collectively evaluated for impairment                                                   | 372             | 335 | 334 |
| Ending balance                                                                          | 426             | 369 | 363 |
| **Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables**                                          |            |   |   |
| Individually evaluated for impairment                                                   | 593             | 484 | 396 |
| Collectively evaluated for impairment                                                   | 27,990          | 24,641 | 22,710 |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                         | 28,583          | 25,125 | 23,106 |
| Customer                                                                                |            |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses**                                   |            |   |   |
| Balance at beginning of year                                                            | 360             | 357 |   |
| Receivables written off                                                                 | (149)           | (210) |   |
| Recoveries on receivables previously written off                                        | 47              | 52 |   |
| Provision for credit losses                                                             | 157             | 167 |   |
| Adjustment due to sale of receivables                                                   | (2)             | (3) |   |
| Foreign currency translation adjustment                                                 | 1               | (3) |   |
| Balance at end of year                                                                  | 414             | 360 |   |
| **Allowance for Credit Losses**                                                         |            |   |   |
| Individually evaluated for impairment                                                   | 54              | 34 | 29 |
| Collectively evaluated for impairment                                                   | 360             | 326 | 328 |
| Ending balance                                                                          | 414             | 360 |   |
| **Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables**                                          |            |   |   |
| Individually evaluated for impairment                                                   | 593             | 484 | 396 |
| Collectively evaluated for impairment                                                   | 19,290          | 17,514 | 17,584 |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                         | 19,883          | 17,998 | 17,980 |
| Dealer                                                                                  |            |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses**                                   |            |   |   |
| Balance at beginning of year                                                            | 6               | 5 |   |
| Receivables written off                                                                 | 0               | 0 |   |
| Recoveries on receivables previously written off                                        | 0               | 0 |   |
| Provision for credit losses                                                             | 3               | 1 |   |
| Adjustment due to sale of receivables                                                   | 0               | 0 |   |
| Foreign currency translation adjustment                                                 | 0               | 0 |   |
| Balance at end of year                                                                  | 9               | 6 |   |
| **Allowance for Credit Losses**                                                         |            |   |   |
| Individually evaluated for impairment                                                   | 0               | 0 | 0 |
| Collectively evaluated for impairment                                                   | 9               | 6 | 5 |
| Ending balance                                                                          | 9               | 6 |   |
| **Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables**                                          |            |   |   |
| Individually evaluated for impairment                                                   | 0               | 0 | 0 |
| Collectively evaluated for impairment                                                   | 5,586           | 3,973 | 3,311 |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                         | 5,586           | 3,973 | 3,311 |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables                                                       |            |   |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses**                                   |            |   |   |
| Balance at beginning of year                                                            | 3               | 1 |   |
| Receivables written off                                                                 | 0               | 0 |   |
| Recoveries on receivables previously written off                                        | 0               | 0 |   |
| Provision for credit losses                                                             | 0               | 2 |   |
| Adjustment due to sale of receivables                                                   | 0               | 0 |   |
| Foreign currency translation adjustment                                                 | 0               | 0 |   |
| Balance at end of year                                                                  | 3               | 3 |   |
| **Allowance for Credit Losses**                                                         |            |   |   |
| Individually evaluated for impairment                                                   | 0               | 0 | 0 |
| Collectively evaluated for impairment                                                   | 3               | 3 | 1 |
| Ending balance                                                                          | 3               | 3 |   |
| **Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables**                                          |            |   |   |
| Individually evaluated for impairment                                                   | 0               | 0 | 0 |
| Collectively evaluated for impairment                                                   | 3,114           | 3,154 | 1,815 |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                         | $ 3,114         | $ 3,154 | $ 1,815 |

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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
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| - Definition
Reduction to the allowance for credit losses related to adjustments due to sale of receivables.
+ References
No definition available.
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Adjustment to the allowance for credit losses related to adoption on consolidation of variable-interest entities.
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No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
This element represents the allowance for credit losses expressed as a percent of finance receivables which is net of unearned income.
+ References
No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
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| - Definition
Reduction to the allowance for credit losses related to foreign currency translation adjustment.
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No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Provision charged for the period based on estimated losses to be realized from loan and lease transactions, excluding miscellaneous other receivables.
+ References
No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
A valuation allowance for financing receivables that are expected to be uncollectible.
+ References
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The valuation allowance for financing receivables that are expected to be uncollectible that were collectively evaluated for impairment.
+ References
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of valuation allowance for financing receivables that are expected to be uncollectible that were individually evaluated for impairment.
+ References
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of recovery of financing receivables doubtful of collection that were previously charged off.
+ References
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|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of direct write-downs of financing receivables charged against the allowance.
+ References
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The balance of financing receivables that were collectively evaluated for impairment.
+ References
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The balance of financing receivables that were individually evaluated for impairment.
+ References
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|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount before allowance and after deduction of deferred interest and fees, unamortized costs and premiums and discounts from face amounts, of loans and leases held in portfolio, including but not limited to, commercial and consumer loans. Excludes loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=d3e5074-111524Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6375948&loc=d3e4428-111522Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Statement of Position (SOP) -Number 01-6 -Paragraph 13 -Subparagraph e -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.  This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher OTS -Name Federal Regulation (FR) -Number Title 12 -Section 563c.102 -Paragraph 8 -Subparagraph e -Chapter V -Subsection I -LegacyDoc This is a non-GAAP reference that was included in the 2009 taxonomy.  It will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher AICPA -Name Audit and Accounting Guide (AAG) -Number AAG-DEP -Paragraph 116 -IssueDate 2006-05-01 -Chapter 8 -LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009.  This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.
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