Segment Information (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
All other operating segments	$ 122	$ 195	$ 367	$ 380
Cost centers	(22)	(3)	(2)	(5)
Corporate costs	(298)	(264)	(568)	(470)
Timing	(93)	(126)	(169)	(112)
Methodology differences:
Inventory/cost of sales	16	4	22	38
Postretirement benefit expense	(166)	(115)	(358)	(243)
Financing costs	(89)	(74)	(178)	(169)
Equity in profit of unconsolidated affiliated companies	10	4	18	6
Currency	(93)	10	(75)	45
Interest rate swaps	(124)		(149)	(2)
Other income/expense methodology differences	(97)	(23)	(156)	(50)
Other methodology differences	(2)	(2)	(1)
Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes	1,350	946	3,113	1,415
Machinery and Power Systems
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
All other operating segments	122	195	367	380
Cost centers	(22)	(3)	(2)	(5)
Corporate costs	(298)	(264)	(568)	(470)
Timing	(93)	(126)	(169)	(112)
Methodology differences:
Inventory/cost of sales	16	4	22	38
Postretirement benefit expense	(166)	(115)	(358)	(243)
Financing costs	(89)	(74)	(178)	(169)
Equity in profit of unconsolidated affiliated companies	10	4	18	6
Currency	(93)	10	(75)	45
Interest rate swaps	(124)		(149)	(2)
Other income/expense methodology differences	(97)	(23)	(156)	(50)
Other methodology differences	(3)	(1)	(4)	(3)
Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes	1,177	837	2,802	1,196
Machinery and Power Systems | Reportable segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Total accountable profit from reportable segments	2,014	1,230	4,054	1,781
Financial Products
Methodology differences:
Other methodology differences	1	(1)	3	3
Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes	173	109	311	219
Financial Products | Reportable segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Total accountable profit from reportable segments	172	110	308	216
Reportable segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Total accountable profit from reportable segments	$ 2,186	$ 1,340	$ 4,362	$ 1,997