Financing Activities (Details 4) - USD ($) $ in Millions | Jun. 30, 2015 | Dec. 31, 2014 |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | $ 28,553 | $ 29,475 |
Performing | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 27,930 | 29,003 |
Nonperforming | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 623 | 472 |
North America | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 13,053 | 12,526 |
North America | Performing | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 13,025 | 12,499 |
North America | Nonperforming | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 28 | 27 |
Europe | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 3,315 | 3,581 |
Europe | Performing | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 3,270 | 3,549 |
Europe | Nonperforming | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 45 | 32 |
Asia/Pacific | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 3,501 | 3,931 |
Asia/Pacific | Performing | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 3,461 | 3,877 |
Asia/Pacific | Nonperforming | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 40 | 54 |
Mining | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 1,955 | 2,126 |
Mining | Performing | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 1,800 | 2,064 |
Mining | Nonperforming | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 155 | 62 |
Latin America | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 3,602 | 4,141 |
Latin America | Performing | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 3,366 | 3,940 |
Latin America | Nonperforming | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 236 | 201 |
Caterpillar Power Finance | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 3,127 | 3,170 |
Caterpillar Power Finance | Performing | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 3,008 | 3,074 |
Caterpillar Power Finance | Nonperforming | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 119 | 96 |
Customer | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 20,288 | 21,068 |
Customer | Performing | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 19,670 | 20,600 |
Customer | Nonperforming | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 618 | 468 |
Customer | North America | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 7,710 | 7,372 |
Customer | North America | Performing | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 7,682 | 7,345 |
Customer | North America | Nonperforming | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 28 | 27 |
Customer | Europe | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 2,509 | 2,675 |
Customer | Europe | Performing | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 2,469 | 2,647 |
Customer | Europe | Nonperforming | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 40 | 28 |
Customer | Asia/Pacific | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 2,513 | 2,893 |
Customer | Asia/Pacific | Performing | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 2,473 | 2,839 |
Customer | Asia/Pacific | Nonperforming | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 40 | 54 |
Customer | Mining | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 1,952 | 2,123 |
Customer | Mining | Performing | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 1,797 | 2,061 |
Customer | Mining | Nonperforming | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 155 | 62 |
Customer | Latin America | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 2,492 | 2,857 |
Customer | Latin America | Performing | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 2,256 | 2,656 |
Customer | Latin America | Nonperforming | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 236 | 201 |
Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 3,112 | 3,148 |
Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance | Performing | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 2,993 | 3,052 |
Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance | Nonperforming | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 119 | 96 |
Dealer | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 5,263 | 5,169 |
Dealer | Performing | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 5,263 | 5,169 |
Dealer | Nonperforming | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 0 | 0 |
Dealer | North America | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 3,462 | 3,209 |
Dealer | North America | Performing | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 3,462 | 3,209 |
Dealer | North America | Nonperforming | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 0 | 0 |
Dealer | Europe | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 403 | 467 |
Dealer | Europe | Performing | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 403 | 467 |
Dealer | Europe | Nonperforming | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 0 | 0 |
Dealer | Asia/Pacific | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 627 | 637 |
Dealer | Asia/Pacific | Performing | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 627 | 637 |
Dealer | Asia/Pacific | Nonperforming | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 0 | 0 |
Dealer | Mining | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 3 | 3 |
Dealer | Mining | Performing | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 3 | 3 |
Dealer | Mining | Nonperforming | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 0 | 0 |
Dealer | Latin America | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 765 | 853 |
Dealer | Latin America | Performing | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 765 | 853 |
Dealer | Latin America | Nonperforming | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 0 | 0 |
Dealer | Caterpillar Power Finance | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 3 | 0 |
Dealer | Caterpillar Power Finance | Performing | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 3 | 0 |
Dealer | Caterpillar Power Finance | Nonperforming | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 0 | 0 |
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 3,002 | 3,238 |
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Performing | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 2,997 | 3,234 |
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Nonperforming | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 5 | 4 |
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 1,881 | 1,945 |
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | Performing | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 1,881 | 1,945 |
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | Nonperforming | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 0 | 0 |
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Europe | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 403 | 439 |
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Europe | Performing | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 398 | 435 |
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Europe | Nonperforming | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 5 | 4 |
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 361 | 401 |
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific | Performing | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 361 | 401 |
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific | Nonperforming | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 0 | 0 |
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Mining | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 0 | 0 |
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Mining | Performing | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 0 | 0 |
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Mining | Nonperforming | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 0 | 0 |
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 345 | 431 |
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America | Performing | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 345 | 431 |
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America | Nonperforming | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 0 | 0 |
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Caterpillar Power Finance | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 12 | 22 |
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Caterpillar Power Finance | Performing | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | 12 | 22 |
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Caterpillar Power Finance | Nonperforming | | |
Recorded investment in finance receivables | | |
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance | $ 0 | $ 0 |