Cat Financial Finacning Activities (Details 6) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Financing Receivable, Past Due [Line Items]
Period after which Collection of Future Income is Considered as Not Probable	120 days
Finance Receivables
Financing Receivable, Past Due [Line Items]
Period after which Collection of Future Income is Considered as Not Probable	120 days
Finance Receivables | Dealer | Latin America
Financing Receivable, Past Due [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Nonperforming, Nonaccrual of Interest	$ 78	$ 78
Finance Receivables | Customer
Financing Receivable, Past Due [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Nonperforming, Nonaccrual of Interest	727	807
Finance Receivables | Customer | North America
Financing Receivable, Past Due [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Nonperforming, Nonaccrual of Interest	44	77
Finance Receivables | Customer | EAME
Financing Receivable, Past Due [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Nonperforming, Nonaccrual of Interest	165	154
Finance Receivables | Customer | Asia Pacific
Financing Receivable, Past Due [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Nonperforming, Nonaccrual of Interest	21	4
Finance Receivables | Customer | Mining
Financing Receivable, Past Due [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Nonperforming, Nonaccrual of Interest	47	50
Finance Receivables | Customer | Latin America
Financing Receivable, Past Due [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Nonperforming, Nonaccrual of Interest	89	106
Finance Receivables | Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance
Financing Receivable, Past Due [Line Items]
Loans and Leases Receivable, Nonperforming, Nonaccrual of Interest	$ 361	$ 416