| **Finance Receivables (Tables)**                                                             | 6 Months Ended                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   |
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| **Receivables [Abstract]**                                                                   |                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             |
| Summary of finance receivables included in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position | A summary of finance receivables included in the Consolidated Statements of Financial Position was as follows:(Millions of dollars) June 30, 2016 December 31, 2015Finance leases and installment sale contracts – Retail $13,952 $13,728Retail notes receivable 10,621 10,616Wholesale notes receivable 3,647 3,887Finance leases and installment sale contracts – Wholesale 228 289  28,448 28,520Less: Unearned income (779) (794)Recorded investment in finance receivables 27,669 27,726Less: Allowance for credit losses (346) (338)Total finance receivables, net $27,323$27,388                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                  |
| Allowance for credit losses and recorded investment in finance receivables                   | An analysis of the allowance for credit losses was as follows:(Millions of dollars)        June 30, 2016Allowance for Credit Losses:Customer Dealer CaterpillarPurchased Receivables TotalBalance at beginning of year$327 $9 $2 $338Receivables written off(79) — — (79)Recoveries on receivables previously written off15 — — 15Provision for credit losses64 1 — 65Adjustment due to sale of receivables— — — —Foreign currency translation adjustment7 — — 7Balance at end of period$334 $10 $2 $346        Individually evaluated for impairment$69 $— $— $69Collectively evaluated for impairment265 10 2 277Ending Balance$334 $10 $2 $346        Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables:       Individually evaluated for impairment$676 $— $— $676Collectively evaluated for impairment19,483 5,140 2,370 26,993Ending Balance$20,159 $5,140 $2,370 $27,669        (Millions of dollars)        December 31, 2015Allowance for Credit Losses:Customer Dealer CaterpillarPurchased Receivables TotalBalance at beginning of year$388 $10 $3 $401Receivables written off(196) — — (196)Recoveries on receivables previously written off41 — — 41Provision for credit losses119 (1) (1) 117Adjustment due to sale of receivables(2) — — (2)Foreign currency translation adjustment(23) — — (23)Balance at end of year$327 $9 $2 $338        Individually evaluated for impairment$65 $— $— $65Collectively evaluated for impairment262 9 2 273Ending Balance$327 $9 $2 $338        Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables:       Individually evaluated for impairment$601 $— $— $601Collectively evaluated for impairment19,431 5,093 2,601 27,125Ending Balance$20,032 $5,093 $2,601 $27,726                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                               |
| Aging related to finance receivables                                                         | The tables below summarize our recorded investment of finance receivables by aging category.(Millions of dollars)              June 30, 2016 31-60DaysPast Due 61-90DaysPast Due 91+DaysPast Due TotalPast Due Current RecordedInvestment inFinance Receivables 91+ Still AccruingCustomer             North America$64 $18 $70 $152 $8,029 $8,181 $8Europe18 9 79 106 2,381 2,487 46Asia/Pacific30 12 26 68 2,118 2,186 8Mining8 4 72 84 1,765 1,849 10Latin America57 27 305 389 1,956 2,345 —Caterpillar Power Finance20 17 39 76 3,035 3,111 1Dealer             North America— — — — 3,391 3,391 —Europe— — — — 334 334 —Asia/Pacific— — — — 652 652 —Mining— — — — 7 7 —Latin America— — — — 754 754 —Caterpillar Power Finance— — — — 2 2 —Caterpillar Purchased Receivables             North America12 5 4 21 1,402 1,423 4Europe1 1 3 5 293 298 —Asia/Pacific— — — — 380 380 —Mining— — — — — — —Latin America— — — — 266 266 —Caterpillar Power Finance— — — — 3 3 —Total$210 $93 $598 $901 $26,768 $27,669 $77               (Millions of dollars)              December 31, 2015 31-60DaysPast Due 61-90DaysPast Due 91+DaysPast Due TotalPast Due Current RecordedInvestment inFinance Receivables 91+ Still AccruingCustomer             North America$45 $12 $30 $87 $8,031 $8,118 $4Europe18 7 44 69 2,358 2,427 9Asia/Pacific22 12 21 55 2,108 2,163 6Mining6 1 68 75 1,793 1,868 1Latin America45 31 199 275 1,998 2,273 —Caterpillar Power Finance— 1 35 36 3,147 3,183 2Dealer             North America— — — — 3,387 3,387 —Europe— — — — 330 330 —Asia/Pacific— — — — 611 611 —Mining— — — — 4 4 —Latin America— — — — 758 758 —Caterpillar Power Finance— — — — 3 3 —Caterpillar Purchased Receivables             North America16 5 1 22 1,386 1,408 1Europe4 — 4 8 307 315 3Asia/Pacific— — — — 407 407 —Mining— — — — — — —Latin America— — — — 454 454 —Caterpillar Power Finance— 1 — 1 16 17 —Total$156 $70 $402 $628 $27,098 $27,726 $26                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                 |
| Impaired finance receivables                                                                 | Our recorded investment in impaired finance receivables and the related unpaid principal balances and allowance for the Customer portfolio segment were as follows:(Millions of dollars)            As of June 30, 2016 As of December 31, 2015Impaired Finance Receivables WithNo Allowance RecordedRecordedInvestment UnpaidPrincipalBalance RelatedAllowance RecordedInvestment UnpaidPrincipalBalance RelatedAllowanceNorth America$33 $33 $— $12 $12 $—Europe49 48 — 41 41 —Asia/Pacific— — — 1 1 —Mining81 81 — 84 84 —Latin America38 38 — 28 28 —Caterpillar Power Finance280 279 — 242 241 —Total$481 $479 $— $408 $407 $—Impaired Finance Receivables WithAn Allowance Recorded           North America$33 $31 $11 $14 $13 $4Europe12 11 7 11 10 5Asia/Pacific36 36 5 34 34 4Mining10 10 3 11 11 3Latin America61 61 27 53 53 21Caterpillar Power Finance43 43 16 70 70 28Total$195 $192 $69 $193 $191 $65Total Impaired Finance Receivables           North America$66 $64 $11 $26 $25 $4Europe61 59 7 52 51 5Asia/Pacific36 36 5 35 35 4Mining91 91 3 95 95 3Latin America99 99 27 81 81 21Caterpillar Power Finance323 322 16 312 311 28Total$676 $671 $69 $601 $598 $65             (Millions of dollars)        Three Months EndedJune 30, 2016 Three Months EndedJune 30, 2015Impaired Finance Receivables With No Allowance RecordedAverageRecordedInvestment InterestIncomeRecognized AverageRecordedInvestment InterestIncomeRecognizedNorth America$24 $1 $12 $—Europe44 — 42 —Asia/Pacific3 — 3 —Mining80 — 80 1Latin America29 — 32 —Caterpillar Power Finance273 2 176 1Total$453 $3 $345 $2Impaired Finance Receivables With An Allowance Recorded       North America$25 $— $6 $—Europe12 — 15 1Asia/Pacific36 1 41 1Mining13 — 62 —Latin America57 — 51 —Caterpillar Power Finance45 1 132 1Total$188 $2 $307 $3Total Impaired Finance Receivables       North America$49 $1 $18 $—Europe56 — 57 1Asia/Pacific39 1 44 1Mining93 — 142 1Latin America86 — 83 —Caterpillar Power Finance318 3 308 2Total$641 $5 $652 $5        (Millions of dollars)        Six Months EndedJune 30, 2016 Six Months EndedJune 30, 2015Impaired Finance Receivables With No Allowance RecordedAverageRecordedInvestment InterestIncomeRecognized AverageRecordedInvestment InterestIncomeRecognizedNorth America$19 $1 $13 $—Europe43 — 43 —Asia/Pacific2 — 3 —Mining80 1 87 3Latin America29 — 32 —Caterpillar Power Finance262 5 151 2Total$435 $7 $329 $5Impaired Finance Receivables With An Allowance Recorded       North America$20 $— $6 $—Europe12 — 14 1Asia/Pacific35 2 34 1Mining12 — 66 1Latin America54 1 49 1Caterpillar Power Finance53 1 131 1Total$186 $4 $300 $5Total Impaired Finance Receivables       North America$39 $1 $19 $—Europe55 — 57 1Asia/Pacific37 2 37 1Mining92 1 153 4Latin America83 1 81 1Caterpillar Power Finance315 6 282 3Total$621 $11 $629 $10         |
| Investment in customer finance receivables on non-accrual status                             | The investment in Customer finance receivables on non-accrual status was as follows: (Millions of dollars)    June 30, 2016 December 31, 2015North America$70 $31Europe33 39Asia/Pacific18 15Mining122 106Latin America311 217Caterpillar Power Finance59 77Total$613 $485                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                        |
| Finance receivables modified as TDRs                                                         | Finance receivables in the Customer portfolio segment modified as TDRs were as follows:(Dollars in millions)Three Months EndedJune 30, 2016 Three Months EndedJune 30, 2015 Number ofContracts Pre-TDRRecorded Investment Post-TDRRecorded Investment Number ofContracts Pre-TDRRecorded Investment Post-TDRRecorded InvestmentNorth America2 $6 $6 1 $— $—Europe3 11 8 19 2 2Asia/Pacific— — — 20 25 25Mining1 10 5 — — —Latin America88 12 13 — — —Caterpillar Power Finance26 144 137 2 21 21Total120 $183 $169 42 $48 $48             Six Months EndedJune 30, 2016 Six Months EndedJune 30, 2015 Number ofContracts Pre-TDRRecorded Investment Post-TDRRecorded Investment Number ofContracts Pre-TDRRecorded Investment Post-TDRRecorded InvestmentNorth America13 $16 $16 4 $1 $1Europe3 11 8 19 2 2Asia/Pacific4 3 3 20 25 25Mining1 10 5 — — —Latin America90 12 13 — — —Caterpillar Power Finance30 183 164 4 104 101Total141 $235 $209 47 $132 $129            TDRs in the Customer portfolio segment with a payment default during the three and six months ended June 30, 2016 and 2015, which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date, were as follows:(Dollars in millions)Three Months EndedJune 30, 2016 Three Months EndedJune 30, 2015 Number ofContracts Post-TDRRecordedInvestment Number ofContracts Post-TDRRecordedInvestmentNorth America9 $3 1 $—Latin America1 — — —Total10 $3 1 $—         Six Months EndedJune 30, 2016 Six Months EndedJune 30, 2015 Number ofContracts Post-TDRRecordedInvestment Number ofContracts Post-TDRRecordedInvestmentNorth America13 $3 5 $1Europe13 1 — —Asia/Pacific3 — — —Latin America2 — 1 —Total31 $4 6 $1                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                            |

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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of financing receivables (examples of financing receivables include loans, trade accounts receivable and notes receivable) and activity in the allowance for credit losses account.
+ References
Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 310 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 11B -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49124121&loc=SL6953423-111524
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of impaired financing receivables.
+ References
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of financing receivables that are past due but not impaired, financing receivables that are 90 days past due and still accruing, and financing receivables on nonaccrual status.
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No definition available.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of the various types of trade accounts and notes receivable and for each the gross carrying value, allowance, and net carrying value as of the balance sheet date. Presentation is categorized by current, noncurrent and unclassified receivables.
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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 210 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 1 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.3,4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of nonaccrual and past due financing receivables (such as loans and trade receivables), including: (a) the recorded investment in loans and trade receivables, if applicable, on nonaccrual status as of each balance sheet date (b) the recorded investment in loans and trade receivables, if applicable, past due 90 days or more and still accruing.
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| - Definition
Tabular disclosure of financing receivables and troubled debt restructurings.
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