Cat Financial Financing Activities (Details TDR) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021 USD ($) Contracts	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($) Contracts	Jun. 30, 2021 USD ($) Contracts	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($) Contracts
Customer
Finance receivables modified as TDRs
Pre-TDR Amortized Cost	$ 26	$ 71	$ 37	$ 73
Post-TDR Amortized Cost	26	71	31	73
TDRs which had been modified within twelve months of the default date
Financing Receivable, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Subsequent Default	17	0	27	11
Customer | North America
Finance receivables modified as TDRs
Pre-TDR Amortized Cost	4	9	4	9
Post-TDR Amortized Cost	4	9	4	9
TDRs which had been modified within twelve months of the default date
Financing Receivable, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Subsequent Default	0	0	1	0
Customer | EMEA
TDRs which had been modified within twelve months of the default date
Financing Receivable, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Subsequent Default	0	0	0	10
Customer | Asia/Pacific
Finance receivables modified as TDRs
Pre-TDR Amortized Cost	0	8	0	8
Post-TDR Amortized Cost	0	8	0	8
TDRs which had been modified within twelve months of the default date
Financing Receivable, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Subsequent Default	2	0	6	0
Customer | Mining
Finance receivables modified as TDRs
Pre-TDR Amortized Cost	0	17	11	17
Post-TDR Amortized Cost	0	17	5	17
Customer | Latin America
Finance receivables modified as TDRs
Pre-TDR Amortized Cost	6	0	6	2
Post-TDR Amortized Cost	6	0	6	2
TDRs which had been modified within twelve months of the default date
Financing Receivable, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Subsequent Default	15	0	15	1
Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance
Finance receivables modified as TDRs
Pre-TDR Amortized Cost	16	37	16	37
Post-TDR Amortized Cost	16	37	16	37
TDRs which had been modified within twelve months of the default date
Financing Receivable, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Subsequent Default	$ 0	$ 0	$ 5	$ 0
Dealer
Finance receivables modified as TDRs
Number of Contracts (in contracts) | Contracts	0	0	0	0