| **Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions** | 3 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|-----------------|
||
| **Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]**                           |           |            |   |   |   |   |   |   |   |  |   |  |   |  |
| Total revenues                                                                      | $ 699          | $ 735           | $ 723 | $ 690 | $ 678 | $ 673 | $ 676 | $ 662 | $ 2,847 |  | $ 2,689 |  | $ 2,595 |  |
| Profit before income taxes                                                          | 46             | 163             | 100 | 124 | 133 | 126 | 164 | 167 | 433 |  | 590 |  | 561 |  |
| Profit                                                                              | $ 18           | $ 125           | $ 71 | $ 91 | $ 271 | $ 86 | $ 114 | $ 115 | $ 305 | [1] | $ 586 | [1] | $ 384 | [1] |
|                                                                                     |
| [1]Profit attributable to Caterpillar Financial Services Corporation.               |

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| - Definition
Amount of income (loss) from continuing operations before deduction of income tax expense (benefit) and income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest, and addition of income (loss) from equity method investments.
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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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|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).
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