Segment Information (Details 4) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item
All other operating segments	$ 1,488	$ 1,499
Items not included in segment assets:
Cash and short-term investments	3,594	3,306
Intercompany receivables	0	0
Investment in Financial Products	0	0
Deferred income taxes	3,466	3,410
Goodwill and intangible assets	3,445	3,145
Property, plant and equipment-net and other assets	1,018	668
Operating lease methodology difference	(297)	(329)
Liabilities included in segment assets	10,579	11,293
Inventory methodology differences	(2,470)	(2,949)
Other	(227)	(421)
Total assets	88,743	89,356
Reportable segments
Items not included in segment assets:
Total assets	68,147	69,734
Machinery and Power Systems
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item
All other operating segments	1,488	1,499
Items not included in segment assets:
Cash and short-term investments	3,594	3,306
Intercompany receivables	305	303
Investment in Financial Products	4,549	4,433
Deferred income taxes	3,987	3,926
Goodwill and intangible assets	3,445	3,145
Property, plant and equipment-net and other assets	1,018	668
Operating lease methodology difference	(297)	(329)
Liabilities included in segment assets	10,579	11,293
Inventory methodology differences	(2,470)	(2,949)
Other	(54)	(182)
Total assets	57,325	58,284
Machinery and Power Systems | Reportable segments
Items not included in segment assets:
Total assets	31,181	33,171
Financial Products
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item
All other operating segments	0	0
Items not included in segment assets:
Cash and short-term investments	0	0
Intercompany receivables	0	0
Investment in Financial Products	0	0
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Goodwill and intangible assets	0	0
Property, plant and equipment-net and other assets	0	0
Operating lease methodology difference	0	0
Liabilities included in segment assets	0	0
Inventory methodology differences	0	0
Other	(98)	(107)
Total assets	36,868	36,456
Financial Products | Reportable segments
Items not included in segment assets:
Total assets	36,966	36,563
Consolidating Adjustments
Segment Reporting Asset Reconciling Item
All other operating segments	0	0
Items not included in segment assets:
Cash and short-term investments	0	0
Intercompany receivables	(305)	(303)
Investment in Financial Products	(4,549)	(4,433)
Deferred income taxes	(521)	(516)
Goodwill and intangible assets	0	0
Property, plant and equipment-net and other assets	0	0
Operating lease methodology difference	0	0
Liabilities included in segment assets	0	0
Inventory methodology differences	0	0
Other	(75)	(132)
Total assets	(5,450)	(5,384)
Consolidating Adjustments | Reportable segments
Items not included in segment assets:
Total assets	$ 0	$ 0