Financing Activities (Details 5) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011
Loan and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs
Number of Contracts	18	49		53		88
Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	$ 2	$ 75		$ 43		$ 139
Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	2	75		43		139
TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date
Number of Contracts	16	8		41		48
Post-TDR Recorded Investment	3	4		23		15
Customer | North America
Loan and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs
Number of Contracts	18	15		41		39
Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	2	4		4		9
Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	2	4		4		9
TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date
Number of Contracts	14	7		25		41
Post-TDR Recorded Investment	1	3		2		9
Customer | Europe
Loan and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs
Number of Contracts	0	5		7		6
Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	0	6		7		7
Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	0	6		7		7
TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date
Number of Contracts	0	1		0		1
Post-TDR Recorded Investment	0	1		0		1
Customer | Asia/Pacific
Loan and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs
Number of Contracts	0	0		0		0
Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	0	0		0		0
Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	0	0		0		0
TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date
Number of Contracts	0	0		0		0
Post-TDR Recorded Investment	0	0		0		0
Customer | Mining
Loan and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs
Number of Contracts	0	0		0		0
Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	0	0		0		0
Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	0	0		0		0
TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date
Number of Contracts	0	0		0		0
Post-TDR Recorded Investment	0	0		0		0
Customer | Latin America
Loan and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs
Number of Contracts	0	4		0		12
Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	0	5		0		10
Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	0	5		0		10
TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date
Number of Contracts	0	0		0		0
Post-TDR Recorded Investment	0	0		0		0
Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance
Loan and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs
Number of Contracts	0	25		5		31
Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	0	60	[1]	32	[2]	113	[3]
Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	0	60	[1]	32	[2]	113	[3]
TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date
Number of Contracts	2	0		16		6
Post-TDR Recorded Investment	2	0		21	[4]	5
Additional investments not recorded	6			15
Remaining commitments	$ 7			$ 7
Dealer
Loan and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs
Number of Contracts	0	0		0		0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables
Loan and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs
Number of Contracts	0	0		0		0

[1] Two customers comprise $55 million of the $60 million pre-TDR and post-TDR outstanding recorded investment for the three months ended June 30, 2011.

[2] Three customers comprise the $32 million pre-TDR and post-TDR outstanding recorded investment for the six months ended June 30, 2012.

[3] Four customers comprise $105 million of the $113 million pre-TDR and post-TDR outstanding recorded investment for the six months ended June 30, 2011.

[4] Two customers comprise $19 million of the $21 million post-TDR recorded investment for the six months ended June 30, 2012.