Cat Financial Financing Activities (Details 4) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Period after which Collection of Future Income is Considered as Not Probable	120 days
Dealer
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Loans and Leases Receivable, Nonperforming, Nonaccrual of Interest	$ 0	$ 0
Finance Receivables | Customer
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Loans and Leases Receivable, Nonperforming, Nonaccrual of Interest	624	485
Finance Receivables | Customer | North America
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Loans and Leases Receivable, Nonperforming, Nonaccrual of Interest	71	31
Finance Receivables | Customer | Europe
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Loans and Leases Receivable, Nonperforming, Nonaccrual of Interest	38	39
Finance Receivables | Customer | Asia Pacific
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Loans and Leases Receivable, Nonperforming, Nonaccrual of Interest	16	15
Finance Receivables | Customer | Mining
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Loans and Leases Receivable, Nonperforming, Nonaccrual of Interest	131	106
Finance Receivables | Customer | Latin America
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Loans and Leases Receivable, Nonperforming, Nonaccrual of Interest	299	217
Finance Receivables | Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Loans and Leases Receivable, Nonperforming, Nonaccrual of Interest	$ 69	$ 77