Cat Financial Financing Activities - Contractual maturities of outstanding wholesale inventory receivables (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023
Finance receivables
Total	$ 23,029	$ 22,449
Wholesale receivables
Finance receivables
2025	1,091
2026	297
2027	220
2028	57
2029	22
Thereafter	7
Total	1,694
Guaranteed residual value	50
Unguaranteed residual value	24
Less: Unearned income	(18)
Total	1,750	$ 1,632
Wholesale receivables \| Wholesale Loans
Finance receivables
2025	1,056
2026	275
2027	206
2028	48
2029	18
Thereafter	6
Total	1,609
Guaranteed residual value	31
Unguaranteed residual value	2
Less: Unearned income	(9)
Total	1,633
Wholesale receivables \| Wholesale Leases
Finance receivables
2025	35
2026	22
2027	14
2028	9
2029	4
Thereafter	1
Total	85
Guaranteed residual value	19
Unguaranteed residual value	22
Less: Unearned income	(9)
Total	$ 117

Represents the aggregate amounts due on wholesale inventory receivables.

No definition available.

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesAggregateMaturities
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due within the next twelve months, following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInNextTwelveMonths
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due in year five, following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInYearFive
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due in year four, following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInYearFour
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due in year three, following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInYearThree
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due in year two, following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInYearTwo
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due after year five, following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueThereafter
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the guaranteed residual value of wholesale inventory receivables.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the unguaranteed residual value of wholesale inventory receivables.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesUnguaranteedResidualValue
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

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.

+ References

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

- Definition

Amount of unamortized loan commitment, origination, and other costs (fees) and purchase premium (discount) on financing receivable recognized as adjustment to yield. Excludes financing receivable covered under loss sharing agreement.

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amortized cost, before allowance for credit loss, of financing receivable. Excludes financing receivable covered under loss sharing agreement and net investment in lease.

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+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis=cat_WholesaleReceivablesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesAxis=cat_WholesaleloansMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesAxis=cat_WholesaleLeasesMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
Period Type: