Financing Activities (Details 6) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012
Loans Managed, Securitized or Asset-backed Financing Arrangement
Off balance-sheet managed assets	$ 278		$ 291
Purchase of trade receivables from Caterpillar Entities
Amortization of receivables purchase discount	$ 58	$ 57

This is the sum of principal amount outstanding for both securitized and unsecuritized loans of all types.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 860

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (e)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=13989330&loc=d3e107314-111719

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 140

-Paragraph 17

-Subparagraph i

-Subclause a

-Clause 4

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name FASB Staff Position (FSP)

-Number FAS140-4/FIN46(R)-8

-Paragraph B11

-Subparagraph b

-Clause 6

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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