| **Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified** | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|-----------------|
||
| **Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]**                                                  |           |            |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |  |   |  |   |  |
| Total revenues                                                                                             | $ 679          | $ 678           | $ 668 | $ 668 | $ 662 | $ 668 | $ 675 | $ 640 | $ 633 | $ 640 | $ 648 | $ 631 | $ 2,693 |  | $ 2,645 |  | $ 2,552 |  |
| Profit before income taxes                                                                                 | 124            | 153             | 144 | 170 | 111 | 126 | 152 | 115 | 74 | 89 | 95 | 71 | 591 |  | 504 |  | 329 |  |
| Profit                                                                                                     | $ 99           | $ 109           | $ 104 | $ 120 | $ 95 | $ 93 | $ 107 | $ 83 | $ 70 | $ 73 | $ 82 | $ 53 | $ 432 | [1] | $ 378 | [1] | $ 278 | [1] |
|                                                                                                            |
| [1]Profit attributable to Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation.                                      |

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|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The aggregate financial services revenue and operating interest income earned during the reporting period.
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|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income or expense before Income or Loss from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest.
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| - Definition
The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                   |
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