Reconciliation of restructuring costs (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Reconciliation of restructuring
Consolidated profit before taxes	$ 1,513	$ 2,264
Restructuring costs	(37)	(48)
Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of restructuring
Consolidated profit before taxes	1,651	2,710
Reportable Segments \| Construction Industries
Reconciliation of restructuring
Consolidated profit before taxes	640	1,085
Reportable Segments \| Resource Industries
Reconciliation of restructuring
Consolidated profit before taxes	304	576
Reportable Segments \| Energy & Transportation
Reconciliation of restructuring
Consolidated profit before taxes	602	838
Reportable Segments \| Financial Products Segment
Reconciliation of restructuring
Consolidated profit before taxes	105	211
All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of restructuring
Consolidated profit before taxes	7	25
Operating Segments
Reconciliation of restructuring
Consolidated profit before taxes	1,658	2,735
Restructuring costs	(25)	(39)
Consolidated profit before taxes with restructuring costs	1,633	2,696
Operating Segments \| Reportable Segments \| Construction Industries
Reconciliation of restructuring
Consolidated profit before taxes	640	1,085
Restructuring costs	2	(9)
Consolidated profit before taxes with restructuring costs	642	1,076
Operating Segments \| Reportable Segments \| Resource Industries
Reconciliation of restructuring
Consolidated profit before taxes	304	576
Restructuring costs	29	(14)
Consolidated profit before taxes with restructuring costs	333	562
Operating Segments \| Reportable Segments \| Energy & Transportation
Reconciliation of restructuring
Consolidated profit before taxes	602	838
Restructuring costs	(60)	(11)
Consolidated profit before taxes with restructuring costs	542	827
Operating Segments \| Reportable Segments \| Financial Products Segment
Reconciliation of restructuring
Consolidated profit before taxes	105	211
Restructuring costs	0	0
Consolidated profit before taxes with restructuring costs	105	211
Operating Segments \| All Other operating segments \| All Other
Reconciliation of restructuring
Consolidated profit before taxes	7	25
Restructuring costs	4	(5)
Consolidated profit before taxes with restructuring costs	$ 11	$ 20

Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income or expense including restructuring costs before income or loss from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, and noncontrolling interest

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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 expenses associated with exit or disposal activities pursuant to an authorized plan. Excludes expenses related to a discontinued operation or an asset retirement obligation.

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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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