Segment Information (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2019 USD ($) group_presidents segments dealers	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Segment Reporting Information
Number of group presidents \| group_presidents			4
Number of operating segments \| segments			5
Useful life to amortize goodwill for segment assets			20 years
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	$ 12,758	$ 13,510	$ 40,656	$ 40,380
Depreciation and amortization	645	698	1,933	2,065
Consolidated profit before taxes	2,005	2,135	6,447	6,455
Segment assets	77,993		77,993		$ 78,509
Capital expenditures	631	601	1,856	2,129
Revenue from Related Parties	131	122	$ 398	345
All Other operating segments
Segment Reporting Information
Number of group presidents \| group_presidents			1
Number of smaller operating segments led by Group President \| group_presidents			1
Number of wholly-owned dealers involved in segment reallocation \| dealers			1
Reportable Segments
Depreciation and amortization	53	55	$ 158	170
Consolidated profit before taxes	(21)	(10)	15	70
Segment assets	1,321		1,321		1,279
Capital expenditures	34	63	69	101
Reportable Segments Including Intersegment Eliminations
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	13,917	14,721	$ 44,246	43,970
Reportable Segments
Segment Reporting Information
Number of operating segments led by Group Presidents \| segments			3
Number of operating segments led by Group President responsible for corporate services \| segments			1
Number of reportable segments \| segments			4
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	12,881	13,614	$ 41,017	40,661
Depreciation and amortization	553	579	1,643	1,719
Consolidated profit before taxes	2,490	2,646	8,007	7,867
Segment assets	56,394		56,394		55,732
Capital expenditures	617	566	1,667	1,928
Intersegment sales and revenues
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	1,036	1,107	3,229	3,309
Machinery, Energy & Transportation \| Reportable Segments Including Intersegment Eliminations
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	13,052	13,876	41,658	41,503
Machinery, Energy & Transportation \| Reportable Segments
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	12,016	12,769	38,429	38,194
Depreciation and amortization	344	367	1,021	1,092
Consolidated profit before taxes	2,272	2,445	7,385	7,391
Segment assets	20,401		20,401		19,730
Capital expenditures	229	268	574	736
Machinery, Energy & Transportation \| Intersegment sales and revenues
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	1,036	1,107	3,229	3,309
Construction Industries \| Reportable Segments Including Intersegment Eliminations
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	5,289	5,683	17,629	17,532
Construction Industries \| Reportable Segments
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	5,275	5,654	17,573	17,450
Depreciation and amortization	80	93	241	272
Consolidated profit before taxes	940	1,058	3,272	3,329
Segment assets	5,226		5,226		4,902
Capital expenditures	48	58	117	162
Construction Industries \| Intersegment sales and revenues
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	14	29	56	82
Resource Industries \| Reportable Segments Including Intersegment Eliminations
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	2,311	2,638	7,881	7,473
Resource Industries \| Reportable Segments
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	2,179	2,538	7,537	7,177
Depreciation and amortization	106	115	315	346
Consolidated profit before taxes	311	414	1,368	1,203
Segment assets	6,396		6,396		6,442
Capital expenditures	31	49	91	111
Resource Industries \| Intersegment sales and revenues
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	132	100	344	296
Energy & Transportation \| Reportable Segments Including Intersegment Eliminations
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	5,452	5,555	16,148	16,498
Energy & Transportation \| Reportable Segments
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	4,562	4,577	13,319	13,567
Depreciation and amortization	158	159	465	474
Consolidated profit before taxes	1,021	973	2,745	2,859
Segment assets	8,779		8,779		8,386
Capital expenditures	150	161	366	463
Energy & Transportation \| Intersegment sales and revenues
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	890	978	2,829	2,931
Financial Products Segment
Reportable Segments
Revenue from Related Parties	131	122	398	345
Financial Products Segment \| Reportable Segments Including Intersegment Eliminations
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	865	845	2,588	2,467
Financial Products Segment \| Reportable Segments
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	865	845	2,588	2,467
Depreciation and amortization	209	212	622	627
Consolidated profit before taxes	218	201	622	476
Segment assets	35,993		35,993		$ 36,002
Capital expenditures	388	298	1,093	1,192
Financial Products Segment \| Intersegment sales and revenues
Reportable Segments
Sales and revenues	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

The number of group presidents that comprise the reporting entity's executive office.

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Number of wholly-owned dealers moved from one operating segment to different operating segment.

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Amount of total capital expenditures attributable to the reportable segments.

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Represents the useful life used to amortize goodwill to allocate to segments assets.

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Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are recognized. Assets are probable future economic benefits obtained or controlled by an entity as a result of past transactions or events.

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Amount of income (loss) from continuing operations before deduction of income tax expense (benefit) and income (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interest, and addition of income (loss) from equity method investments.

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Amount of revenue, fees and commissions earned from transactions between (a) a parent company and its subsidiaries; (b) subsidiaries of a common parent; (c) an entity and trusts for the benefit of employees, for example, but not limited to, pension and profit-sharing trusts that are managed by or under the trusteeship of the entity's management; (d) an entity and its principal, owners, management, or members of their immediate families; and (e) affiliates.

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Amount of revenue recognized from goods sold, services rendered, insurance premiums, or other activities that constitute an earning process. Includes, but is not limited to, investment and interest income before deduction of interest expense when recognized as a component of revenue, and sales and trading gain (loss).

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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