Financing Activities (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Balance at beginning of year	$ 378	$ 426
Receivables written off	(52)	(179)
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	14	56
Provision for credit losses	33	84
Adjustment due to sale of receivables		(3)
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(6)
Balance at end of period	373	378
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment	50	70
Collectively evaluated for impairment	323	308
Allowance, Ending Balance	373	378
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment	555	629
Collectively evaluated for impairment	29,245	28,473
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	29,800	29,102
Customer
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Balance at beginning of year	365	414
Receivables written off	(52)	(179)
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	14	56
Provision for credit losses	32	83
Adjustment due to sale of receivables		(3)
Foreign currency translation adjustment		(6)
Balance at end of period	359	365
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment	50	70
Collectively evaluated for impairment	309	295
Allowance, Ending Balance	359	365
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment	555	629
Collectively evaluated for impairment	20,520	20,127
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	21,075	20,756
Dealer
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Balance at beginning of year	10	9
Receivables written off	0	0
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	0	0
Provision for credit losses	0	1
Adjustment due to sale of receivables		0
Foreign currency translation adjustment		0
Balance at end of period	10	10
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment	0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment	10	10
Allowance, Ending Balance	10	10
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment	0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment	5,212	5,254
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	5,212	5,254
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Balance at beginning of year	3	3
Receivables written off	0	0
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	0	0
Provision for credit losses	1	0
Adjustment due to sale of receivables		0
Foreign currency translation adjustment		0
Balance at end of period	4	3
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment	0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment	4	3
Allowance, Ending Balance	4	3
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment	0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment	3,513	3,092
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	$ 3,513	$ 3,092