Financing Activities (Details 3) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Balance at beginning of year	$ 387	$ 429
Receivables written off	(110)	(180)
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	36	56
Provision for credit losses	105	91
Adjustment due to sale of receivables	(2)	(3)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(11)	(6)
Balance at end of period	405	387
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment	87	73
Collectively evaluated for impairment	318	314
Allowance, Ending Balance	405	387
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment	616	639
Collectively evaluated for impairment	28,968	28,427
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	29,584	29,066
Customer
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Balance at beginning of year	374	417
Receivables written off	(110)	(180)
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	36	56
Provision for credit losses	105	90
Adjustment due to sale of receivables	(2)	(3)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(11)	(6)
Balance at end of period	392	374
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment	87	73
Collectively evaluated for impairment	305	301
Allowance, Ending Balance	392	374
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment	616	639
Collectively evaluated for impairment	20,554	20,081
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	21,170	20,720
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	0
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	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	5,418	5,254
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	5,418	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	0	0
Adjustment due to sale of receivables	0	0
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0
Balance at end of period	3	3
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment	0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment	3	3
Allowance, Ending Balance	3	3
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment	0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment	2,996	3,092
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance	$ 2,996	$ 3,092