Financing Activities (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Balance at beginning of year	$ 401	$ 387
Receivables written off	(72)	(146)
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	22	47
Provision for credit losses	66	136
Adjustment due to sale of receivables	(1)	(3)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(11)	(20)
Balance at end of period	405	401
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment			$ 98	$ 75
Collectively evaluated for impairment			307	326
Allowance, Ending Balance	401	387	405	401
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment			608	614
Collectively evaluated for impairment			27,945	28,861
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance			28,553	29,475
Customer
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Balance at beginning of year	388	374
Receivables written off	(72)	(146)
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	22	47
Provision for credit losses	67	136
Adjustment due to sale of receivables	(1)	(3)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(11)	(20)
Balance at end of period	393	388
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment			98	75
Collectively evaluated for impairment			295	313
Allowance, Ending Balance	388	374	393	388
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment			608	614
Collectively evaluated for impairment			19,680	20,454
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance			20,288	21,068
Dealer
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Balance at beginning of year	10	10
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	0
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0
Balance at end of period	9	10
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment			0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment			9	10
Allowance, Ending Balance	10	10	9	10
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment			0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment			5,263	5,169
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance			5,263	5,169
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	3	3
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment			0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment			3,002	3,238
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance			$ 3,002	$ 3,238