Segment Information (Details 4) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	$ 2,135	$ 1,523	$ 6,455	$ 2,971
Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	2,646	2,041	7,867	5,447
All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(10)	5	70	(28)
Cost Centers
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	29	17	55	13
Corporate Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(134)	(158)	(480)	(447)
Timing
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(18)	(21)	(168)	(128)
Restructuring Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(110)	(90)	(293)	(1,011)
Inventory/cost of sales
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(20)	(4)	3	(80)
Postretirement Benefits Expense
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	58	38	227	129
Stock-Based Compensation Expense [Member]
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(52)	(48)	(164)	(165)
Financing Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(56)	(116)	(203)	(369)
Currency
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(96)	(37)	(145)	(195)
Other Income Expense Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(88)	(71)	(261)	(105)
Other
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(14)	(33)	(53)	(90)
Business
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	2,636	2,046	7,937	5,419
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	2,445	1,856	7,391	4,888
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	1,945	1,342	5,992	2,418
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	2,445	1,856	7,391	4,888
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(10)	5	70	(28)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Cost Centers
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	29	17	55	13
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Corporate Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(134)	(158)	(480)	(447)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Timing
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(18)	(21)	(168)	(128)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Restructuring Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(96)	(89)	(278)	(1,009)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Inventory/cost of sales
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(20)	(4)	3	(80)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Postretirement Benefits Expense
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	58	38	227	129
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Stock-Based Compensation Expense [Member]
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(50)	(46)	(158)	(158)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Financing Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(56)	(116)	(203)	(369)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Currency
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(96)	(37)	(145)	(195)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Other Income Expense Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(88)	(71)	(261)	(105)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Other
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(19)	(32)	(61)	(93)
Financial Products | Business
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	190	181	463	553
Financial Products | Business | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	201	185	476	559
Financial Products | Business | All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Cost Centers
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Corporate Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Timing
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Restructuring Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(14)	(1)	(15)	(2)
Financial Products | Business | Inventory/cost of sales
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Postretirement Benefits Expense
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Stock-Based Compensation Expense [Member]
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(2)	(2)	(6)	(7)
Financial Products | Business | Financing Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Currency
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Other Income Expense Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Other
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	$ 5	$ (1)	$ 8	$ 3