Cat Financial Financing Activities (Details 3) - Finance Receivables - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Allowance for credit loss activity:
Balance at beginning of year	$ 336	$ 398
Receivables written off	(158)	(196)
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	35	41
Provision for credit losses	133	118
Other	(5)	(25)
Balance at end of year	341	336
Allowance for Credit Losses:
Individually evaluated for impairment			$ 85	$ 65
Collectively evaluated for impairment			256	271
Ending Balance	336	398	341	336
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables:
Individually evaluated for impairment			786	601
Collectively evaluated for impairment			21,611	22,358
Ending balance-recorded investment in finance receivables			22,397	22,959
Customer
Allowance for credit loss activity:
Balance at beginning of year	327	388
Receivables written off	(158)	(196)
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	35	41
Provision for credit losses	132	119
Other	(5)	25
Balance at end of year	331	327
Allowance for Credit Losses:
Individually evaluated for impairment			85	65
Collectively evaluated for impairment			246	262
Ending Balance	327	388	331	327
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables:
Individually evaluated for impairment			786	601
Collectively evaluated for impairment			18,236	18,788
Ending balance-recorded investment in finance receivables			19,022	19,389
Dealer
Allowance for credit loss activity:
Balance at beginning of year	9	10
Receivables written off	0	0
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	0	0
Provision for credit losses	1	(1)
Other	0	0
Balance at end of year	10	9
Allowance for Credit Losses:
Individually evaluated for impairment			0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment			10	9
Ending Balance	$ 9	$ 10	10	9
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables:
Individually evaluated for impairment			0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment			3,375	3,570
Ending balance-recorded investment in finance receivables			$ 3,375	$ 3,570