| **Financing Activities (Details 6) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified**                    | 12 Months Ended |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|-----------------|
||
| **Loan and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs**                                                |            |   |   |
| Number of Contracts                                                                                    | 194             | 199 | 125 |
| Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment                                                                | $ 295           | $ 284 | $ 184 |
| Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment                                                               | 299             | 284 | 184 |
| **TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date** |            |   |   |
| Number of Contracts                                                                                    | 26              | 67 | 70 |
| Post-TDR Recorded Investment                                                                           | 7               | 26 | 101 |
| Additional investments not recorded                                                                    | 25              | 24 | 15 |
| Remaining commitments                                                                                  | 6               |   |   |
| Customer | North America                                                                               |            |   |   |
| **Loan and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs**                                                |            |   |   |
| Number of Contracts                                                                                    | 62              | 98 | 71 |
| Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment                                                                | 9               | 15 | 13 |
| Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment                                                               | 9               | 15 | 13 |
| **TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date** |            |   |   |
| Number of Contracts                                                                                    | 19              | 49 | 48 |
| Post-TDR Recorded Investment                                                                           | 4               | 4 | 26 |
| Customer | Europe                                                                                      |            |   |   |
| **Loan and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs**                                                |            |   |   |
| Number of Contracts                                                                                    | 51              | 21 | 7 |
| Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment                                                                | 7               | 8 | 44 |
| Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment                                                               | 7               | 8 | 44 |
| **TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date** |            |   |   |
| Number of Contracts                                                                                    | 5               | 0 | 1 |
| Post-TDR Recorded Investment                                                                           | 0               | 0 | 1 |
| Customer | Asia/Pacific                                                                                |            |   |   |
| **Loan and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs**                                                |            |   |   |
| Number of Contracts                                                                                    | 3               | 12 |   |
| Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment                                                                | 1               | 3 |   |
| Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment                                                               | 1               | 3 |   |
| **TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date** |            |   |   |
| Number of Contracts                                                                                    | 0               | 2 | 0 |
| Post-TDR Recorded Investment                                                                           | 0               | 1 | 0 |
| Customer | Mining                                                                                      |            |   |   |
| **Loan and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs**                                                |            |   |   |
| Number of Contracts                                                                                    | 45              |   |   |
| Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment                                                                | 123             |   |   |
| Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment                                                               | 123             |   |   |
| Customer | Latin America                                                                               |            |   |   |
| **Loan and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs**                                                |            |   |   |
| Number of Contracts                                                                                    | 16              | 41 | 12 |
| Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment                                                                | 2               | 5 | 10 |
| Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment                                                               | 2               | 5 | 10 |
| **TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date** |            |   |   |
| Number of Contracts                                                                                    | 0               | 0 | 7 |
| Post-TDR Recorded Investment                                                                           | 0               | 0 | 4 |
| Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance                                                                   |            |   |   |
| **Loan and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs**                                                |            |   |   |
| Number of Contracts                                                                                    | 17              | 27 | 35 |
| Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment                                                                | 153             | 253 | 117 |
| Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment                                                               | 157             | 253 | 117 |
| **TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date** |            |   |   |
| Number of Contracts                                                                                    | 2               | 16 | 14 |
| Post-TDR Recorded Investment                                                                           | $ 3             | $ 21 | $ 70 |
| Dealer                                                                                                 |            |   |   |
| **Loan and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs**                                                |            |   |   |
| Number of Contracts                                                                                    | 0               | 0 | 0 |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables                                                                      |            |   |   |
| **Loan and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs**                                                |            |   |   |
| Number of Contracts                                                                                    | 0               | 0 | 0 |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The amount of the additional funds subsequently loaned to a borrower whose terms had been modified in a troubled debt restructuring.
+ References
No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The amount of remaining commitments to loan funds to a borrower whose terms had been modified in a troubled debt restructuring.
+ References
No definition available.
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                             |
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Number of financing receivables that have been modified by troubled debt restructurings.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 33 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28368275&loc=SL6953676-111524
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Post-modification amount of investment in financing receivables modified by troubled debt restructurings.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 33 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28368275&loc=SL6953676-111524
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Pre-modification amount of investment in financing receivables modified by troubled debt restructurings.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 33 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28368275&loc=SL6953676-111524
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Number of financing receivables that have been modified by troubled debt restructurings within the previous 12 months and for which there was a payment default.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 34 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28368275&loc=SL6953682-111524
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| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of investment related to financing receivables modified by troubled debt restructurings within the previous 12 months, for which there was a payment default.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 34 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=28368275&loc=SL6953682-111524
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