Derivative Financial Instruments and Risk Management (Details) - USD ($) $ in Billions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities Disclosure [Abstract]
Maximum length of time policy, foreign currency cash flow hedge	5 years
Foreign currency cash flow hedges, maximum period (in months)	60 months
Commodity forward and option contracts, maximum period (in years)	5 years
Derivative instruments	$ 27.0	$ 25.6

The maximum period of commodity forward and option contracts used by the entity to lock in purchase prices.

No definition available.

Name:	cat_ManagingCommodityPriceRiskMaximumPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum period of time the entity's risk management policy allows for managing anticipated foreign currency cash flows, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_MaximumLengthofTimePolicyForeignCurrencyCashFlowHedge
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsAndHedgingActivitiesDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Nominal or face amount used to calculate payment on derivative.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480434/815-10-50-1B

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1A
-Subparagraph (d)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480434/815-10-50-1A

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeNotionalAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum period of hedging exposure to variability in future cash flows for forecasted transaction of foreign currency cash flow hedge, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days. Excludes forecasted transaction for payment of variable interest on existing financial instrument.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (d)
-SubTopic 30
-Topic 815
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147480870/815-30-50-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_MaximumLengthOfTimeForeignCurrencyCashFlowHedge
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration