| **Financing Activities (Details 2) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified** | 6 Months Ended |        |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|--------|
||
| **Receivables [Abstract]**                                                          |           |   |
| Period after which unpaid installments are considered as past due                   | 30 days        |   |
| Period after which collection of future income is considered as not probable        | 120 days       |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due**                             |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | $ 259          | $ 206  |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 127            | 73     |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 423            | 421    |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 809            | 700    |
| Current                                                                             | 28,070         | 27,883 |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                     | 28,879         | 28,583 |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 47             | 31     |
| Investment in loans and finance leases on non-accrual status                        | 511            | 513    |
| North America                                                                       |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due**                             |           |   |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                     | 10,827         | 10,271 |
| Europe                                                                              |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due**                             |           |   |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                     | 3,740          | 3,539  |
| Asia/Pacific                                                                        |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due**                             |           |   |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                     | 4,852          | 5,293  |
| Mining                                                                              |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due**                             |           |   |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                     | 2,203          | 1,974  |
| Latin America                                                                       |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due**                             |           |   |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                     | 4,058          | 4,323  |
| Caterpillar Power Finance                                                           |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due**                             |           |   |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                     | 3,199          | 3,183  |
| Customer                                                                            |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due**                             |           |   |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                     | 20,338         | 19,883 |
| Customer | North America                                                            |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due**                             |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 26             | 35     |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 6              | 8      |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 29             | 52     |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 61             | 95     |
| Current                                                                             | 6,077          | 5,889  |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                     | 6,138          | 5,984  |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 1              | 0      |
| Investment in loans and finance leases on non-accrual status                        | 37             | 59     |
| Customer | Europe                                                                   |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due**                             |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 32             | 23     |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 13             | 9      |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 39             | 36     |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 84             | 68     |
| Current                                                                             | 2,553          | 2,487  |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                     | 2,637          | 2,555  |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 12             | 6      |
| Investment in loans and finance leases on non-accrual status                        | 38             | 38     |
| Customer | Asia/Pacific                                                             |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due**                             |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 80             | 53     |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 29             | 19     |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 59             | 54     |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 168            | 126    |
| Current                                                                             | 3,277          | 3,354  |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                     | 3,445          | 3,480  |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 14             | 18     |
| Investment in loans and finance leases on non-accrual status                        | 45             | 36     |
| Customer | Mining                                                                   |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due**                             |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 3              | 0      |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 1      |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 12             | 12     |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 15             | 13     |
| Current                                                                             | 2,183          | 1,960  |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                     | 2,198          | 1,973  |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 0              | 0      |
| Investment in loans and finance leases on non-accrual status                        | 12             | 12     |
| Customer | Latin America                                                            |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due**                             |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 66             | 62     |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 33             | 19     |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 173            | 138    |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 272            | 219    |
| Current                                                                             | 2,459          | 2,500  |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                     | 2,731          | 2,719  |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 0              | 0      |
| Investment in loans and finance leases on non-accrual status                        | 197            | 148    |
| Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance                                                |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due**                             |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 10             | 15     |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 40             | 14     |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 109            | 126    |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 159            | 155    |
| Current                                                                             | 3,030          | 3,017  |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                     | 3,189          | 3,172  |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 18             | 4      |
| Investment in loans and finance leases on non-accrual status                        | 182            | 220    |
| Dealer                                                                              |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due**                             |           |   |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                     | 5,305          | 5,586  |
| Investment in loans and finance leases on non-accrual status                        | 0              | 0      |
| Dealer | North America                                                              |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due**                             |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 0              | 0      |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 0              | 0      |
| Current                                                                             | 2,941          | 2,931  |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                     | 2,941          | 2,931  |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 0              | 0      |
| Dealer | Europe                                                                     |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due**                             |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 0              | 0      |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 0              | 0      |
| Current                                                                             | 635            | 652    |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                     | 635            | 652    |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 0              | 0      |
| Dealer | Asia/Pacific                                                               |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due**                             |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 1              | 0      |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 0              | 0      |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 1              | 0      |
| Current                                                                             | 725            | 945    |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                     | 726            | 945    |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 0              | 0      |
| Dealer | Mining                                                                     |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due**                             |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 0              | 0      |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 0              | 0      |
| Current                                                                             | 5              | 1      |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                     | 5              | 1      |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 0              | 0      |
| Dealer | Latin America                                                              |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due**                             |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 0              | 0      |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 0              | 0      |
| Current                                                                             | 997            | 1,057  |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                     | 997            | 1,057  |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 0              | 0      |
| Dealer | Caterpillar Power Finance                                                  |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due**                             |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 0              | 0      |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 0              | 0      |
| Current                                                                             | 1              | 0      |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                     | 1              | 0      |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 0              | 0      |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables                                                   |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due**                             |           |   |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                     | 3,236          | 3,114  |
| Investment in loans and finance leases on non-accrual status                        | 0              | 0      |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America                                   |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due**                             |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 16             | 17     |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 2              | 3      |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 0              | 2      |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 18             | 22     |
| Current                                                                             | 1,730          | 1,334  |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                     | 1,748          | 1,356  |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 0              | 2      |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Europe                                          |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due**                             |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 6              | 1      |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 3              | 0      |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 2              | 0      |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 11             | 1      |
| Current                                                                             | 457            | 331    |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                     | 468            | 332    |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 2              | 0      |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific                                    |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due**                             |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 19             | 0      |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 0              | 0      |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 19             | 0      |
| Current                                                                             | 662            | 868    |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                     | 681            | 868    |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 0              | 0      |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Mining                                          |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due**                             |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 0              | 0      |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 0              | 0      |
| Current                                                                             | 0              | 0      |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                     | 0              | 0      |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 0              | 0      |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America                                   |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due**                             |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 0              | 0      |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 0              | 0      |
| Current                                                                             | 330            | 547    |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                     | 330            | 547    |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | 0              | 0      |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Caterpillar Power Finance                       |           |   |
| **Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due**                             |           |   |
| 31-60 Days Past Due                                                                 | 0              | 0      |
| 61-90 Days Past Due                                                                 | 1              | 0      |
| Greater than 91 Days Past Due                                                       | 0              | 1      |
| Total Past Due                                                                      | 1              | 1      |
| Current                                                                             | 8              | 10     |
| Total gross finance receivables                                                     | 9              | 11     |
| Greater than 91, Still Accruing                                                     | $ 0            | $ 1    |

| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Financing receivables that are less than 61 days past due but more than 30 days past due.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**cfsc_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment31To60DaysPastDue**Namespace Prefix:**cfsc_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Financing receivables that are less than 91 days past due but more than 60 days past due.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**cfsc_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment61To90DaysPastDue**Namespace Prefix:**cfsc_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Recorded investment in financing receivables that are 91 days or more past due and still accruing.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**cfsc_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment91DaysPastDueAndStillAccruing**Namespace Prefix:**cfsc_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Financing receivables that are more than 91 days past due.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**cfsc_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentGreaterThan91DaysPastDue**Namespace Prefix:**cfsc_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                              |
|----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
This element represents the period after which collection of future income is considered as not probable.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**cfsc_PeriodAfterWhichCollectionOfFutureIncomeIsConsideredAsNotProbable**Namespace Prefix:**cfsc_**Data Type:**xbrli:durationItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                      |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
This element represents the period after which the unpaid contractual payments are considered as past due.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**cfsc_PeriodAfterWhichUnpaidInstallmentsAreConsideredAsPastDue**Namespace Prefix:**cfsc_**Data Type:**xbrli:durationItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                     |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Financing receivables that are current.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 7A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=SL6953401-111524
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentCurrent**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Recorded Investment in financing receivables that are past due at the balance sheet date.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 7A -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7512638&loc=SL6953401-111524
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentPastDue**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                        |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_FinancingReceivableRecordedInvestmentPastDueAbstract**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Reflects the carrying amount of loans deemed to be questionable as to collection on which interest is continuing to be earned or accrued.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableImpairedNonperformingAccrualOfInterest**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - 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.
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetOfDeferredIncome**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                       |
|---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**us-gaap_ReceivablesAbstract**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |