Finance Receivables (Details 5) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	$ 568	$ 485
Customer | North America
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	40	31
Customer | Europe
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	56	39
Customer | Asia/Pacific
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	18	15
Customer | Mining
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	135	106
Customer | Latin America
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	262	217
Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	57	77
Dealer
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	0	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Europe
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	$ 4	$ 1