Cat Financial Financing Activities (Details 3 Credit quality of finance receivables) - Finance Receivables - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		$ 926
Current		21,471
Total Finance Receivables	$ 21,632	22,397
31-60 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		198
61-90 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		101
91+ days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		627
Customer
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Finance Receivables	18,579	18,687
Customer | North America
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		150
Current		8,002
Total Finance Receivables		8,152
Customer | North America | 31-60 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		72
Customer | North America | 61-90 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		23
Customer | North America | 91+ days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		55
Customer | EAME
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		202
Current		2,882
Total Finance Receivables		3,084
Customer | EAME | 31-60 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		30
Customer | EAME | 61-90 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		31
Customer | EAME | 91+ days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		141
Customer | Asia/Pacific
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		83
Current		2,181
Total Finance Receivables		2,264
Customer | Asia/Pacific | 31-60 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		40
Customer | Asia/Pacific | 61-90 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		14
Customer | Asia/Pacific | 91+ days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		29
Customer | Mining
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		24
Current		2,266
Total Finance Receivables		2,290
Customer | Mining | 31-60 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		5
Customer | Mining | 61-90 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Customer | Mining | 91+ days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		19
Customer | Latin America
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		144
Current		1,089
Total Finance Receivables		1,233
Customer | Latin America | 31-60 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		41
Customer | Latin America | 61-90 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		23
Customer | Latin America | 91+ days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		80
Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		245
Current		1,419
Total Finance Receivables		1,664
Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance | 31-60 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		10
Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance | 61-90 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		10
Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance | 91+ days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		225
Dealer
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Finance Receivables	$ 3,053	3,710
Dealer | North America
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Current		2,136
Total Finance Receivables		2,136
Dealer | North America | 31-60 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | North America | 61-90 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | North America | 91+ days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | EAME
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Current		342
Total Finance Receivables		342
Dealer | EAME | 31-60 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | EAME | 61-90 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | EAME | 91+ days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | Asia/Pacific
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Current		437
Total Finance Receivables		437
Dealer | Asia/Pacific | 31-60 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | Asia/Pacific | 61-90 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | Asia/Pacific | 91+ days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | Mining
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Current		4
Total Finance Receivables		4
Dealer | Mining | 31-60 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | Mining | 61-90 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | Mining | 91+ days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | Latin America
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		78
Current		712
Total Finance Receivables		790
Dealer | Latin America | 31-60 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | Latin America | 61-90 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | Latin America | 91+ days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		78
Dealer | Caterpillar Power Finance
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Current		1
Total Finance Receivables		1
Dealer | Caterpillar Power Finance | 31-60 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | Caterpillar Power Finance | 61-90 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | Caterpillar Power Finance | 91+ days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		$ 0