Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014 segments group_presidents	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information
Number of group presidents	5
Number of operating segments	7
Useful life to amortize goodwill for segment assets	20 years
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	$ 13,241	$ 13,210
Depreciation and amortization	781	723
Consolidated profit before taxes	1,342	1,127
Segment assets	84,397		84,896
Capital expenditures	739	1,232
All Other operating segments
Segment Reporting Information
Number of group presidents	1
Number of smaller operating segments led by Group President	3
Number of wholly-owned dealers involved in segment reallocation	3
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	554	517
Depreciation and amortization	66	79
Consolidated profit before taxes	235	205
Segment assets	2,717		2,973
Capital expenditures	38	64
Reportable Segments Including Intersegment Eliminations
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	13,518	13,395
Reportable Segments
Segment Reporting Information
Number of operating segments led by Group Presidents	3
Number of operating segments led by Group President responsible for corporate services	1
Reportable Segments
Number of reportable segments	4
Sales and revenues	12,780	12,772
Depreciation and amortization	682	610
Consolidated profit before taxes	1,904	1,551
Segment assets	62,963		63,468
Capital expenditures	433	624
Intersegment Eliminations
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	738	623
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Reportable Segments Including Intersegment Eliminations
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	12,701	12,600
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Reportable Segments
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	11,963	11,977
Depreciation and amortization	463	430
Consolidated profit before taxes	1,664	1,278
Segment assets	25,548		26,488
Capital expenditures	164	304
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Intersegment Eliminations
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	738	623
Construction Industries | Reportable Segments Including Intersegment Eliminations
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	5,139	4,318
Construction Industries | Reportable Segments
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	5,064	4,219
Depreciation and amortization	134	115
Consolidated profit before taxes	688	228
Segment assets	7,061		7,607
Capital expenditures	64	100
Construction Industries | Intersegment Eliminations
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	75	99
Resource Industries | Reportable Segments Including Intersegment Eliminations
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	2,236	3,481
Resource Industries | Reportable Segments
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	2,123	3,353
Depreciation and amortization	173	164
Consolidated profit before taxes	149	459
Segment assets	10,141		10,389
Capital expenditures	24	100
Resource Industries | Intersegment Eliminations
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	113	128
Energy & Transportation | Reportable Segments Including Intersegment Eliminations
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	5,326	4,801
Energy & Transportation | Reportable Segments
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	4,776	4,405
Depreciation and amortization	156	151
Consolidated profit before taxes	827	591
Segment assets	8,346		8,492
Capital expenditures	76	104
Energy & Transportation | Intersegment Eliminations
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	550	396
Financial Products Segment | Reportable Segments Including Intersegment Eliminations
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	817	795
Financial Products Segment | Reportable Segments
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	817	795
Depreciation and amortization	219	180
Consolidated profit before taxes	240	273
Segment assets	37,415		36,980
Capital expenditures	269	320
Financial Products Segment | Intersegment Eliminations
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	$ 0	$ 0