Represents the aggregate amounts due on wholesale inventory receivables.

No definition available.

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesAggregateMaturities
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due within the next twelve months, following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInNextTwelveMonths
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due in year five, following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInYearFive
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due in year four, following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInYearFour
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due in year three, following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInYearThree
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due in year two, following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInYearTwo
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due after year five, following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueThereafter
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the guaranteed residual value of wholesale inventory receivables.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesGuaranteedResidualValue
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the unguaranteed residual value of wholesale inventory receivables.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesUnguaranteedResidualValue
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsNotesAndLoansReceivableLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of deferred interest and fee income, unamortized costs incurred to originate loans and leases, unamortized loan commitments and loan syndication fees, and premiums over or discounts from face amounts of acquired loans. Excludes amounts for loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher OTS

-Name Federal Regulation (FR)

-Number Title 12

-Section 563c.102

-Paragraph 8

-Subparagraph a(i-v)

-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 2: 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 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-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 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

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-Publisher OTS

-Name Federal Regulation (FR)

-Number Title 12

-Section 563c.102

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-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 8: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

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-Paragraph 23

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-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.

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification

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-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- 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 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 2: 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.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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-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

Cat Financial Financing Activities (Details) (Wholesale Receivables, USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Wholesale inventory receivable
2013	$ 1,271
2014	363
2015	313
2016	83
2017	32
Thereafter	2
Total Amounts Due	2,064
Guaranteed residual value	102
Unguaranteed residual value	35
Less: Unearned Income	(49)
Total	2,152	1,990	1,361
Wholesale Installment Contracts
Wholesale inventory receivable
2013	398
2014	96
2015	58
2016	28
2017	12
Thereafter	2
Total Amounts Due	594
Guaranteed residual value	0
Unguaranteed residual value	0
Less: Unearned Income	(7)
Total	587
Wholesale Finance Leases
Wholesale inventory receivable
2013	146
2014	100
2015	74
2016	42
2017	14
Thereafter	0
Total Amounts Due	376
Guaranteed residual value	102
Unguaranteed residual value	35
Less: Unearned Income	(35)
Total	478
Wholesale Notes
Wholesale inventory receivable
2013	727
2014	167
2015	181
2016	13
2017	6
Thereafter	0
Total Amounts Due	1,094
Guaranteed residual value	0
Unguaranteed residual value	0
Less: Unearned Income	(7)
Total	$ 1,087