Financing Activities (Details 5) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 contracts	Mar. 31, 2012 contracts
Loans modified as TDRs
Number of Contracts	14	35
Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	$ 38	$ 41
Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	39	41
TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date
Number of Contracts	10	25
Post-TDR Recorded Investment	5	20
Customer | North America
Loans modified as TDRs
Number of Contracts	10	23
Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	2	2
Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	2	2
TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date
Number of Contracts	8	11
Post-TDR Recorded Investment	2	1
Customer | Europe
Loans modified as TDRs
Number of Contracts	0	7
Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	0	7
Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	0	7
Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance
Loans modified as TDRs
Number of Contracts	4	5
Pre-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	36	32
Post-TDR Outstanding Recorded Investment	37	32
TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date
Number of Contracts	2	14
Post-TDR Recorded Investment	3	19
Additional investments not recorded	5
Remaining commitments	$ 30
Dealer
Loans modified as TDRs
Number of Contracts	0	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables
Loans modified as TDRs
Number of Contracts	0	0