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Guarantees and Product Warranty (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Mar. 31, 2015
Feb. 28, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]      
Related liability $ 13us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsCurrentCarryingValue   $ 12us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsCurrentCarryingValue
Guarantor Obligations      
Guarantees, maximum potential amount of future payments 690us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure   740us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
Special-Purpose Corporation assets in Consolidated Statement of Financial Position 1,144us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets   1,086us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountAssets
Special-Purpose Corporation liabilities in Consolidated Statement of Financial Position 1,144us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountLiabilities   1,085us-gaap_VariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountLiabilities
Caterpillar dealer guarantees      
Guarantor Obligations      
Guarantees, maximum potential amount of future payments 198us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
/ us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis
= cat_GuaranteeWithDealerMember
  209us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
/ us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis
= cat_GuaranteeWithDealerMember
Customer guarantees      
Guarantor Obligations      
Guarantees, maximum potential amount of future payments 58us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
/ us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis
= cat_GuaranteeWithCustomersMember
  49us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
/ us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis
= cat_GuaranteeWithCustomersMember
Customer guarantees-supplier consortium      
Guarantor Obligations      
Guarantees, maximum potential amount of future payments 284us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
/ us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis
= cat_CustomerGuaranteesSupplierConsortiumMember
  321us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
/ us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis
= cat_CustomerGuaranteesSupplierConsortiumMember
Third party logistics business guarantees      
Guarantor Obligations      
Percentage of equity interest sold   35.00%cat_EquityMethodInvestmentPercentageSold
/ us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis
= cat_ThirdPartyLogisticsBusinessMember
 
Guarantees, maximum potential amount of future payments 123us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
/ us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis
= cat_ThirdPartyLogisticsBusinessMember
  129us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
/ us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis
= cat_ThirdPartyLogisticsBusinessMember
Other guarantees      
Guarantor Obligations      
Guarantees, maximum potential amount of future payments $ 27us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
/ us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis
= us-gaap_GuaranteeTypeOtherMember
  $ 32us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
/ us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis
= us-gaap_GuaranteeTypeOtherMember