| **Financing Activities (Details 5) (USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified**                    | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|----------------|----------------|
||
| **Loans and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs**                                               |           |           |   |   |
| Number of Contracts                                                                                    | 82             | 58             | 132 | 111 |
| Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment                                                                | $ 195          | $ 159          | $ 237 | $ 202 |
| Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment                                                               | 196            | 159            | 240 | 202 |
| **TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date** |           |           |   |   |
| Number of Contracts                                                                                    | 10             | 10             | 25 | 57 |
| Post-TDR Recorded Investment                                                                           | 1              | 2              | 7 | 25 |
| Customer | North America                                                                               |           |           |   |   |
| **Loans and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs**                                               |           |           |   |   |
| Number of Contracts                                                                                    | 14             | 17             | 46 | 58 |
| Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment                                                                | 1              | 4              | 5 | 8 |
| Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment                                                               | 0              | 4              | 5 | 8 |
| **TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date** |           |           |   |   |
| Number of Contracts                                                                                    | 5              | 8              | 18 | 39 |
| Post-TDR Recorded Investment                                                                           | 1              | 1              | 4 | 3 |
| Customer | Europe                                                                                      |           |           |   |   |
| **Loans and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs**                                               |           |           |   |   |
| Number of Contracts                                                                                    | 7              | 14             | 15 | 21 |
| Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment                                                                | 5              | 1              | 6 | 8 |
| Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment                                                               | 5              | 1              | 6 | 8 |
| **TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date** |           |           |   |   |
| Financing Receivable Modifications Defaulted in Current Period, Number of Contracts                    | 5              | 0              | 5 | 0 |
| Financing Receivable, Modification Recorded Investment                                                 | 0              | 0              | 0 | 0 |
| Customer | Asia/Pacific                                                                                |           |           |   |   |
| **Loans and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs**                                               |           |           |   |   |
| Number of Contracts                                                                                    | 0              | 12             | 0 | 12 |
| Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment                                                                | 0              | 3              | 0 | 3 |
| Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment                                                               | 0              | 3              | 0 | 3 |
| **TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date** |           |           |   |   |
| Number of Contracts                                                                                    | 0              | 2              | 0 | 2 |
| Post-TDR Recorded Investment                                                                           | 0              | 1              | 0 | 1 |
| Customer | Mining                                                                                      |           |           |   |   |
| **TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date** |           |           |   |   |
| Financing Receivable, Modification, Number of Contracts                                                | 45             | 0              | 45 | 0 |
| Financing Receivable, Modification, Pre-Modification Recorded Investment                               | 123            | 0              | 123 | 0 |
| Financing Receivable, Modification, Post-Modification Recorded Investment                              | 123            | 0              | 123 | 0 |
| Customer | Latin America                                                                               |           |           |   |   |
| **TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date** |           |           |   |   |
| Financing Receivable, Modification, Number of Contracts                                                | 10             | 0              | 16 | 0 |
| Financing Receivable, Modification, Pre-Modification Recorded Investment                               | 1              | 0              | 2 | 0 |
| Financing Receivable, Modification, Post-Modification Recorded Investment                              | 1              | 0              | 2 | 0 |
| Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance                                                                   |           |           |   |   |
| **Loans and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs**                                               |           |           |   |   |
| Number of Contracts                                                                                    | 6              | 15             | 10 | 20 |
| Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment                                                                | 65             | 151            | 101 | 183 |
| Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment                                                               | 67             | 151            | 104 | 183 |
| **TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date** |           |           |   |   |
| Number of Contracts                                                                                    |           |           | 2 | 16 |
| Post-TDR Recorded Investment                                                                           |           |           | 3 | 21 |
| Additional investments not recorded                                                                    | 13             |           | 25 |   |
| Remaining commitments                                                                                  | $ 4            |           | $ 4 |   |
| Dealer                                                                                                 |           |           |   |   |
| **Loans and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs**                                               |           |           |   |   |
| Number of Contracts                                                                                    | 0              | 0              | 0 | 0 |
| Caterpillar Purchased Receivables                                                                      |           |           |   |   |
| **Loans and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs**                                               |           |           |   |   |
| Number of Contracts                                                                                    | 0              | 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.
+ Details**Name:**cfsc_AdditionalInvestmentsNotRecorded**Namespace Prefix:**cfsc_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
Represents the number of financing receivables that have been modified by troubled debt restructurings.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**cfsc_FinancingReceivableModificationNumberOfContracts**Namespace Prefix:**cfsc_**Data Type:**xbrli:integerItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The amount of recorded investment related to financing receivables that have been modified by troubled debt restructurings after the financing receivable has been modified.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**cfsc_FinancingReceivableModificationPostModificationRecordedInvestment**Namespace Prefix:**cfsc_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                    |
|--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The amount of recorded investment related to financing receivables that have been modified by troubled debt restructurings before the financing receivable has been modified.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**cfsc_FinancingReceivableModificationPreModificationRecordedInvestment**Namespace Prefix:**cfsc_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The amount of recorded investment related to financing receivables that have been modified by troubled debt restructurings within the previous twelve months but subsequently defaulted during the current period.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**cfsc_FinancingReceivableModificationRecordedInvestment**Namespace Prefix:**cfsc_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
|-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Definition
The number of financing receivables that have been modified by troubled debt restructurings within the previous twelve months but subsequently defaulted during the current period.
+ References
No definition available.
+ Details**Name:**cfsc_FinancingReceivableModificationsDefaultedInCurrentPeriodNumberOfContracts**Namespace Prefix:**cfsc_**Data Type:**xbrli:integerItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                  |
|------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**cfsc_LoanAndFinanceLeaseReceivablesModifiedAsTdrsAbstract**Namespace Prefix:**cfsc_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| 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.
+ Details**Name:**cfsc_RemainingCommitments**Namespace Prefix:**cfsc_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**instant |
| X                                                                                                                                                                                             |
|-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------|
| - Details**Name:**cfsc_TdrsWhichHadBeenModifiedWithinTwelveMonthsOfDefaultDateAbstract**Namespace Prefix:**cfsc_**Data Type:**xbrli:stringItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| 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
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_FinancingReceivableModificationsNumberOfContracts2**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:integerItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| 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
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_FinancingReceivableModificationsPostModificationRecordedInvestment2**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |
| 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
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_FinancingReceivableModificationsPreModificationRecordedInvestment2**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |
| 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
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_FinancingReceivableModificationsSubsequentDefaultNumberOfContracts1**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:integerItemType**Balance Type:**na**Period Type:**duration |
| 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
+ Details**Name:**us-gaap_FinancingReceivableModificationsSubsequentDefaultRecordedInvestment1**Namespace Prefix:**us-gaap_**Data Type:**xbrli:monetaryItemType**Balance Type:**debit**Period Type:**duration |