Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details 2) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
		Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Other income (expense)		$ 160	$ 127
Tax (provision) benefit		(387)	(472)
Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation		13,466	12,859
Cost of Revenue		9,003	8,566
Interest expense of Financial Products		190	166
Interest expense excluding Financial Products		(103)	(101)
Reclassifications before tax		2,264	2,134
Reclassifications net of tax	[1]	1,881	1,665
Financial Products
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation		742	709
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Reclassifications net of tax		15	(12)
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Foreign currency translation
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Other income (expense)		0	(1)
Reclassifications net of tax		0	(1)
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Pension and other postretirement benefits
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Amortization of prior service credit (cost)		10	9
Tax (provision) benefit		(3)	(2)
Reclassifications net of tax		7	7
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Derivative financial instruments
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Tax (provision) benefit		(2)	6
Reclassifications before tax		11	(24)
Reclassifications net of tax		9	(18)
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Derivative financial instruments | Foreign exchange contracts | Machinery, Energy & Transportation
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Sales of Machinery, Energy & Transportation		1	0
Cost of Revenue		(3)	0
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Derivative financial instruments | Foreign exchange contracts | Financial Products
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Other income (expense)		6	(28)
Interest expense of Financial Products		7	3
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Derivative financial instruments | Interest rate contracts | Machinery, Energy & Transportation
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Interest expense excluding Financial Products		(1)	0
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Derivative financial instruments | Interest rate contracts | Financial Products
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Interest expense of Financial Products		(1)	(1)
Reclassification out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income | Available-for-sale securities
Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income
Other income (expense)		(1)	0
Reclassifications net of tax		$ (1)	$ 0

[1] Profit attributable to common shareholders.