Financing Activities (Details 5) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	$ 29,066	$ 28,568	$ 25,115
Performing
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	28,610	28,040	24,635
Nonperforming
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	456	528	480
North America
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	11,186	10,271	9,923
North America | Performing
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	11,160	10,212	9,811
North America | Nonperforming
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	26	59	112
Europe
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	3,871	3,539	2,960
Europe | Performing
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	3,843	3,501	2,902
Europe | Nonperforming
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	28	38	58
Asia/Pacific
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	4,492	5,282	4,185
Asia/Pacific | Performing
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	4,442	5,246	4,161
Asia/Pacific | Nonperforming
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	50	36	24
Mining
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	2,148	1,974	1,485
Mining | Performing
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	2,125	1,962	1,473
Mining | Nonperforming
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	23	12	12
Latin America
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	4,269	4,319	3,613
Latin America | Performing
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	4,059	4,156	3,497
Latin America | Nonperforming
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	210	163	116
Caterpillar Power Finance
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	3,100	3,183	2,949
Caterpillar Power Finance | Performing
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	2,981	2,963	2,791
Caterpillar Power Finance | Nonperforming
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	119	220	158
Customer
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	20,720	19,868	17,988
Customer | Performing
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	20,264	19,340	17,508
Customer | Nonperforming
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	456	528	480
Customer | North America
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	6,580	5,984	5,673
Customer | North America | Performing
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	6,554	5,925	5,561
Customer | North America | Nonperforming
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	26	59	112
Customer | Europe
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	2,875	2,555	2,224
Customer | Europe | Performing
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	2,847	2,517	2,166
Customer | Europe | Nonperforming
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	28	38	58
Customer | Asia/Pacific
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	3,318	3,469	3,204
Customer | Asia/Pacific | Performing
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	3,268	3,433	3,180
Customer | Asia/Pacific | Nonperforming
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	50	36	24
Customer | Mining
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	2,143	1,973	1,485
Customer | Mining | Performing
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	2,120	1,961	1,473
Customer | Mining | Nonperforming
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	23	12	12
Customer | Latin America
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	2,713	2,715	2,482
Customer | Latin America | Performing
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	2,503	2,552	2,366
Customer | Latin America | Nonperforming
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	210	163	116
Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	3,091	3,172	2,920
Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance | Performing
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	2,972	2,952	2,762
Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance | Nonperforming
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	119	220	158
Dealer
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	5,254	5,586	3,973
Dealer | Performing
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	5,254	5,586	3,973
Dealer | Nonperforming
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	0	0	0
Dealer | North America
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	3,034	2,931	2,414
Dealer | North America | Performing
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	3,034	2,931	2,414
Dealer | North America | Nonperforming
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	0	0	0
Dealer | Europe
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	569	652	334
Dealer | Europe | Performing
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	569	652	334
Dealer | Europe | Nonperforming
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	0	0	0
Dealer | Asia/Pacific
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	706	945	516
Dealer | Asia/Pacific | Performing
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	706	945	516
Dealer | Asia/Pacific | Nonperforming
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	0	0	0
Dealer | Mining
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	5	1	0
Dealer | Mining | Performing
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	5	1	0
Dealer | Mining | Nonperforming
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	0	0	0
Dealer | Latin America
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	940	1,057	709
Dealer | Latin America | Performing
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	940	1,057	709
Dealer | Latin America | Nonperforming
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	0	0	0
Dealer | Caterpillar Power Finance
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	0	0	0
Dealer | Caterpillar Power Finance | Performing
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	0	0	0
Dealer | Caterpillar Power Finance | Nonperforming
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	0	0	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	3,092	3,114	3,154
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Performing
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	3,092	3,114	3,154
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Nonperforming
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	0	0	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	1,572	1,356	1,836
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | Performing
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	1,572	1,356	1,836
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | Nonperforming
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	0	0	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Europe
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	427	332	402
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Europe | Performing
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	427	332	402
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Europe | Nonperforming
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	0	0	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	468	868	465
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific | Performing
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	468	868	465
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific | Nonperforming
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	0	0	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Mining
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	0	0	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Mining | Performing
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	0	0	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Mining | Nonperforming
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	0	0	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	616	547	422
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America | Performing
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	616	547	422
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America | Nonperforming
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	0	0	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Caterpillar Power Finance
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	9	11	29
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Caterpillar Power Finance | Performing
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	9	11	29
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Caterpillar Power Finance | Nonperforming
Recorded investment in finance receivables
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0