Financing Activities (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Customer
Financing Receivable, Impaired
Recorded Investment With No Allowance Recorded	$ 402		$ 446
Unpaid Principal Balance With No Allowance Recorded	401		443
Related Allowance With No Allowance Recorded	0		0
Recorded Investment With An Allowance Recorded	153		183
Unpaid Principal Balance With An Allowance Recorded	151		178
Related Allowance	50		70
Recorded Investment, Total	555		629
Unpaid Principal Balance, Total	552		621
Related Allowance, Total	50		70
Average Recorded Investment With No Allowance Recorded	435	371
Interest Income Recognized With No Allowance Recorded	5	1
Average Recorded Investment With An Allowance Recorded	175	283
Interest Income Recognized With An Allowance Recorded	1	2
Average Recorded Investment, Total	610	654
Interest Income Recognized, Total	6	3
Customer | North America
Financing Receivable, Impaired
Recorded Investment With No Allowance Recorded	24		23
Unpaid Principal Balance With No Allowance Recorded	23		22
Related Allowance With No Allowance Recorded	0		0
Recorded Investment With An Allowance Recorded	8		13
Unpaid Principal Balance With An Allowance Recorded	8		13
Related Allowance	3		4
Recorded Investment, Total	32		36
Unpaid Principal Balance, Total	31		35
Related Allowance, Total	3		4
Average Recorded Investment With No Allowance Recorded	25	28
Interest Income Recognized With No Allowance Recorded	1	1
Average Recorded Investment With An Allowance Recorded	10	24
Interest Income Recognized With An Allowance Recorded	0	0
Average Recorded Investment, Total	35	52
Interest Income Recognized, Total	1	1
Customer | Europe
Financing Receivable, Impaired
Recorded Investment With No Allowance Recorded	47		48
Unpaid Principal Balance With No Allowance Recorded	47		47
Related Allowance With No Allowance Recorded	0		0
Recorded Investment With An Allowance Recorded	17		20
Unpaid Principal Balance With An Allowance Recorded	16		19
Related Allowance	6		7
Recorded Investment, Total	64		68
Unpaid Principal Balance, Total	63		66
Related Allowance, Total	6		7
Average Recorded Investment With No Allowance Recorded	48	45
Interest Income Recognized With No Allowance Recorded	0	0
Average Recorded Investment With An Allowance Recorded	19	34
Interest Income Recognized With An Allowance Recorded	0	0
Average Recorded Investment, Total	67	79
Interest Income Recognized, Total	0	0
Customer | Asia/Pacific
Financing Receivable, Impaired
Recorded Investment With No Allowance Recorded	5		7
Unpaid Principal Balance With No Allowance Recorded	5		7
Related Allowance With No Allowance Recorded	0		0
Recorded Investment With An Allowance Recorded	13		17
Unpaid Principal Balance With An Allowance Recorded	13		17
Related Allowance	3		2
Recorded Investment, Total	18		24
Unpaid Principal Balance, Total	18		24
Related Allowance, Total	3		2
Average Recorded Investment With No Allowance Recorded	6	4
Interest Income Recognized With No Allowance Recorded	0	0
Average Recorded Investment With An Allowance Recorded	16	26
Interest Income Recognized With An Allowance Recorded	0	1
Average Recorded Investment, Total	22	30
Interest Income Recognized, Total	0	1
Customer | Mining
Financing Receivable, Impaired
Recorded Investment With No Allowance Recorded	133		134
Unpaid Principal Balance With No Allowance Recorded	133		134
Related Allowance With No Allowance Recorded	0		0
Recorded Investment With An Allowance Recorded	32		0
Unpaid Principal Balance With An Allowance Recorded	32		0
Related Allowance	12		0
Recorded Investment, Total	165		134
Unpaid Principal Balance, Total	165		134
Related Allowance, Total	12		0
Average Recorded Investment With No Allowance Recorded	134	0
Interest Income Recognized With No Allowance Recorded	2	0
Average Recorded Investment With An Allowance Recorded	24	19
Interest Income Recognized With An Allowance Recorded	0	0
Average Recorded Investment, Total	158	19
Interest Income Recognized, Total	2	0
Customer | Latin America
Financing Receivable, Impaired
Recorded Investment With No Allowance Recorded	37		11
Unpaid Principal Balance With No Allowance Recorded	37		11
Related Allowance With No Allowance Recorded	0		0
Recorded Investment With An Allowance Recorded	28		23
Unpaid Principal Balance With An Allowance Recorded	28		23
Related Allowance	8		6
Recorded Investment, Total	65		34
Unpaid Principal Balance, Total	65		34
Related Allowance, Total	8		6
Average Recorded Investment With No Allowance Recorded	17	9
Interest Income Recognized With No Allowance Recorded	0	0
Average Recorded Investment With An Allowance Recorded	24	52
Interest Income Recognized With An Allowance Recorded	0	1
Average Recorded Investment, Total	41	61
Interest Income Recognized, Total	0	1
Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance
Financing Receivable, Impaired
Recorded Investment With No Allowance Recorded	156		223
Unpaid Principal Balance With No Allowance Recorded	156		222
Related Allowance With No Allowance Recorded	0		0
Recorded Investment With An Allowance Recorded	55		110
Unpaid Principal Balance With An Allowance Recorded	54		106
Related Allowance	18		51
Recorded Investment, Total	211		333
Unpaid Principal Balance, Total	210		328
Related Allowance, Total	18		51
Average Recorded Investment With No Allowance Recorded	205	285
Interest Income Recognized With No Allowance Recorded	2	0
Average Recorded Investment With An Allowance Recorded	82	128
Interest Income Recognized With An Allowance Recorded	1	0
Average Recorded Investment, Total	287	413
Interest Income Recognized, Total	3	0
Dealer
Financing Receivable, Impaired
Recorded Investment, Total	0		0
Average Recorded Investment, Total	0	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables
Financing Receivable, Impaired
Recorded Investment, Total	0		0
Average Recorded Investment, Total	$ 0	$ 0