Reconciliation of assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	$ 78,453	$ 78,509
Reportable segments
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	55,858	55,732	$ 53,698
All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	1,337	1,279
Cash and Short Term Investments
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	7,299	6,968
Intercompany Receivables
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0
Investment in Financial Products
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0
Deferred income taxes
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	1,294	1,323
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	4,435	4,279
Property Plant and Equipment-Net and Other Assets
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	2,529	1,802
Liabilities Included in Segment Assets
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	8,541	9,766
Inventory Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	(2,426)	(2,503)
Other
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	(414)	(137)
Consolidating Adjustments
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	(5,931)	(6,034)
Consolidating Adjustments | Reportable segments
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Cash and Short Term Investments
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Intercompany Receivables
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	(758)	(1,633)
Consolidating Adjustments | Investment in Financial Products
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	(4,260)	(3,672)
Consolidating Adjustments | Deferred income taxes
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	(708)	(692)
Consolidating Adjustments | Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Property Plant and Equipment-Net and Other Assets
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Liabilities Included in Segment Assets
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Inventory Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Other
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	(205)	(37)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Reportable segments
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	20,045	19,730	$ 18,805
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	48,437	48,475
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Reportable segments
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	20,045	19,730
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	1,337	1,279
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Cash and Short Term Investments
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	7,299	6,968
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Intercompany Receivables
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	758	1,633
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Investment in Financial Products
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	4,260	3,672
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Deferred income taxes
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	2,002	2,015
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	4,435	4,279
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Property Plant and Equipment-Net and Other Assets
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	2,529	1,802
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Liabilities Included in Segment Assets
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	8,541	9,766
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Inventory Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	(2,426)	(2,503)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Other
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	(343)	(166)
Financial Products | Business
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	35,947	36,068
Financial Products | Business | Reportable segments
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	35,813	36,002
Financial Products | Business | All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Cash and Short Term Investments
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Intercompany Receivables
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Investment in Financial Products
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Deferred income taxes
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Property Plant and Equipment-Net and Other Assets
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Liabilities Included in Segment Assets
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Inventory Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Other
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	$ 134	$ 66