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Postemployment benefit plans (Details 4) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2010
Dec. 31, 2009
Dec. 31, 2008
U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 1
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year $ 7,929 $ 6,550  
U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 1 | U.S. equities
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 4,975 4,634  
U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 1 | Non-U.S. equities
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 2,884 1,803  
U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 1 | Cash, short-term instruments and other
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 70 113  
Other Postretirement Benefits | Level 1
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 820 823  
Other Postretirement Benefits | Level 1 | U.S. equities
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 512 531  
Other Postretirement Benefits | Level 1 | Non-U.S. equities
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 289 273  
Other Postretirement Benefits | Level 1 | Cash, short-term instruments and other
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 19 19  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 1
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 1,489 1,444  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 1 | U.S. equities
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 359 330  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 1 | Non-U.S. equities
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 916 863  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 1 | Global equities
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 153 144  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 1 | Cash and short-term instruments
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 59 104  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 1 | Other
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 2 3  
U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 2
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 2,723 2,361  
U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 2 | U.S. equities
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 1 2  
U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 2 | U.S. corporate bonds
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 1,412 1,179  
U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 2 | Non-U.S. corporate bonds
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 92 70  
U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 2 | U.S. treasury bonds
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 299 323  
U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 2 | U.S. governmental agency mortgage-backed securities
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 634 562  
U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 2 | Non-U.S. government bonds
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 22 9  
U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 2 | Cash, short-term instruments and other
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 263 216  
Other Postretirement Benefits | Level 2
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 176 240  
Other Postretirement Benefits | Level 2 | Non-U.S. equities
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year   6  
Other Postretirement Benefits | Level 2 | U.S. corporate bonds
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 79 95  
Other Postretirement Benefits | Level 2 | Non-U.S. corporate bonds
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 6 8  
Other Postretirement Benefits | Level 2 | U.S. treasury bonds
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 14 24  
Other Postretirement Benefits | Level 2 | U.S. governmental agency mortgage-backed securities
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 43 54  
Other Postretirement Benefits | Level 2 | Non-U.S. government bonds
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 1 1  
Other Postretirement Benefits | Level 2 | Cash, short-term instruments and other
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 33 52  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 2
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 1,257 1,212  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 2 | Non-U.S. equities
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 90 84  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 2 | Global equities
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 37 14  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 2 | U.S. corporate bonds
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 18 22  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 2 | Non-U.S. corporate bonds
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 374 355  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 2 | U.S. treasury bonds
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 5 1  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 2 | Non-U.S. government bonds
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 163 156  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 2 | Global fixed income
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 374 361  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 2 | Real estate
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 89 80  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 2 | Cash and short-term instruments
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 3 4  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 2 | Other
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 104 135  
U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 3
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 108 118  
U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 3 | Equities
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year 51 16  
Unrealized gains (losses) 11 3  
Realized gains (losses) (1)    
Purchases, issuances and settlements 32 31  
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3 (43) 1  
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 50 51  
U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 3 | U.S. equities
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 46 17  
U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 3 | Non-U.S. equities
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 4 34  
U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 3 | Fixed income securities
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year 57 73  
Unrealized gains (losses) 1 34  
Realized gains (losses) 3 (2)  
Purchases, issuances and settlements (9) (12)  
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3 (4) (36)  
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 48 57  
U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 3 | U.S. corporate bonds
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 38 56  
U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 3 | Non-U.S. corporate bonds
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 1 1  
U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 3 | U.S. treasury bonds
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 5    
U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 3 | U.S. governmental agency mortgage-backed securities
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 4    
U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 3 | Real estate
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year   9  
Unrealized gains (losses)   1  
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 10 10  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 3
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 134 141  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 3 | Equities
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year 5    
Unrealized gains (losses) (1) 2  
Realized gains (losses) 1    
Purchases, issuances and settlements (2) 3  
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3 (2)    
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 1 5  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 3 | Non-U.S. equities
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 1 5  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 3 | Fixed income securities
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year 14 5  
Unrealized gains (losses)   1  
Purchases, issuances and settlements (3) 6  
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3 (3) 2  
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 8 14  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 3 | U.S. corporate bonds
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 2 1  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 3 | Non-U.S. corporate bonds
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 5 11  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 3 | Non-U.S. government bonds
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 1 2  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 3 | Real estate
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year 71 61  
Unrealized gains (losses) 7 10  
Purchases, issuances and settlements 12    
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 90 71  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Level 3 | Other
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year 51 67  
Unrealized gains (losses) 1 63  
Realized gains (losses) 5 (41)  
Purchases, issuances and settlements (22) (38)  
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 35 51  
U.S. Pension Benefits | U.S. equities
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 5,022 4,653  
Other Postretirement Benefits | U.S. equities
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 512 531  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | U.S. equities
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 359 330  
U.S. Pension Benefits | Non-U.S. equities
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 2,888 1,837  
Other Postretirement Benefits | Non-U.S. equities
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 289 279  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Non-U.S. equities
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 1,007 952  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Global equities
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 190 158  
U.S. Pension Benefits | U.S. corporate bonds
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 1,450 1,235  
Other Postretirement Benefits | U.S. corporate bonds
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 79 95  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | U.S. corporate bonds
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 20 23  
U.S. Pension Benefits | Non-U.S. corporate bonds
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 93 71  
Other Postretirement Benefits | Non-U.S. corporate bonds
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 6 8  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Non-U.S. corporate bonds
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 379 366  
U.S. Pension Benefits | U.S. treasury bonds
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 304 323  
Other Postretirement Benefits | U.S. treasury bonds
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 14 24  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | U.S. treasury bonds
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 5 1  
U.S. Pension Benefits | U.S. governmental agency mortgage-backed securities
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 638 562  
Other Postretirement Benefits | U.S. governmental agency mortgage-backed securities
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 43 54  
U.S. Pension Benefits | Non-U.S. government bonds
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 22 9  
Other Postretirement Benefits | Non-U.S. government bonds
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 1 1  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Non-U.S. government bonds
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 164 158  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Global fixed income
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 374 361  
U.S. Pension Benefits | Real estate
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 10 10  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Real estate
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 179 151  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Cash and short-term instruments
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 62 108  
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits | Other
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 141 189  
U.S. Pension Benefits | Cash, short-term instruments and other
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 333 329  
Other Postretirement Benefits | Cash, short-term instruments and other
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 52 71  
U.S. Pension Benefits
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year 9,029 6,745 10,441
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 10,760 9,029 6,745
Caterpillar Inc. common stock 779 1,016 11
Percentage of Caterpillar common stock to total plan assets (as a percent) 7.00% 11.00% 1.00%
Non-U.S. Pension Benefits
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year 2,797 2,175 2,773
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 2,880 2,797 2,175
Caterpillar Inc. common stock 2 1 1
Other Postretirement Benefits
      
Change in Fair Value of Plan Assets      
Fair value of plan assets, beginning of year 1,063 1,042 1,584
Fair value of plan assets, end of year 996 1,063 1,042
Caterpillar Inc. common stock $ 3 $ 1 $ 2