Name:	cat_PercentageOfCompensationContributedAnnuallyByEmployerHighEndOfRange
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

This element represents low end of range of the percentage of compensation contributed by employer to defined contribution plan as an annual employer non-elective contribution.

No definition available.

Name:	cat_PercentageOfCompensationContributedAnnuallyByEmployerLowEndOfRange
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

This element represents the percentage of compensation contributed by the U.S. employees to defined contribution plans that are generally eligible for employer matching contributions.

No definition available.

Name:	cat_PercentageOfCompensationContributedToDefinedContributionPlansByEmployees
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

This element represents the percentage of compensation contributed by the U.S. employees accruing benefits under defined benefit pension plan to defined contribution plans that are generally eligible for employer matching contributions for employees.

No definition available.

Name:	cat_PercentageOfCompensationContributedToDefinedContributionPlansByEmployeesAccruingBenefitUnderDefinedBenefitPensionPlan
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

This element represents the percentage that the employer generally matches on employee contributions to U.S. defined contribution plans.

No definition available.

Name:	cat_PercentageOfEmployeesContributionContributedByEmployer
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

This element represents the percentage that the employer generally matches of employee contributions to U.S. defined contribution plans for employees accruing benefits under a defined benefit pension plan.

No definition available.

Name:	cat_PercentageOfEmployeesContributionContributedByEmployerAccruingBenefitUnderDefinedBenefitPensionPlan
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Amount of cost for defined contribution plan.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 715
-SubTopic 70
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=49170846&loc=d3e28014-114942

Name:	us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The shares or units in an ESOP trust that have been assigned to individual participant accounts based on a known formula. IRS rules require allocations to be nondiscriminatory generally based on compensation, length of service, or a combination of both. For any particular participant such shares or units may be vested, unvested, or partially vested.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 40
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109244661&loc=d3e17540-113929