XML 57 R83.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT v2.4.1.9
Fair Value Measurements (Details 2) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Level 2 | Financial Products | Nonrecurring basis      
Fair value of impaired loans      
Impaired loans $ 151us-gaap_ImpairedFinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cat_FinancialProductsMember
  $ 248us-gaap_ImpairedFinancingReceivableRecordedInvestment
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= cat_FinancialProductsMember
Level 3 | Guarantees | Recurring basis      
Roll-forward of liabilities measured at fair value using Level 3 inputs      
Balance at beginning of period 12us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationsRecurringBasisLiabilityValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByLiabilityClassAxis
= us-gaap_GuaranteesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
13us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationsRecurringBasisLiabilityValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByLiabilityClassAxis
= us-gaap_GuaranteesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
 
Issuance of guarantees 1us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilityIssues
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByLiabilityClassAxis
= us-gaap_GuaranteesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilityIssues
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByLiabilityClassAxis
= us-gaap_GuaranteesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
 
Expiration of guarantees 0cat_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilityExpiration
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByLiabilityClassAxis
= us-gaap_GuaranteesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
0cat_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisLiabilityExpiration
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByLiabilityClassAxis
= us-gaap_GuaranteesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
 
Balance at end of period $ 13us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationsRecurringBasisLiabilityValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByLiabilityClassAxis
= us-gaap_GuaranteesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember
$ 13us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationsRecurringBasisLiabilityValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByLiabilityClassAxis
= us-gaap_GuaranteesMember
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsRecurringMember