Finance Receivables (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Allowance for credit losses	$ 338	$ 401	$ 343	$ 338
Allowance for credit losses as a percent of net finance receivables			1.29%	1.22%
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Balance at beginning of year	338	401
Receivables written off	(158)	(196)
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	35	41
Provision for credit losses	133	117
Adjustment due to sale of receivables	(8)	(2)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	3	(23)
Balance at end of year	343	338
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment			$ 85	$ 65
Collectively evaluated for impairment			258	273
Allowance, Ending balance	338	401	343	338
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment			786	601
Collectively evaluated for impairment			25,769	27,125
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance			26,555	27,726
Customer
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Allowance for credit losses	327	388	331	327
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Balance at beginning of year	327	388
Receivables written off	(158)	(196)
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	35	41
Provision for credit losses	132	119
Adjustment due to sale of receivables	(8)	(2)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	3	(23)
Balance at end of year	331	327
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment			85	65
Collectively evaluated for impairment			246	262
Allowance, Ending balance	327	388	331	327
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment			786	601
Collectively evaluated for impairment			18,859	19,431
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance			19,645	20,032
Dealer
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Allowance for credit losses	9	10	10	9
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Balance at beginning of year	9	10
Receivables written off	0	0
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	0	0
Provision for credit losses	1	(1)
Adjustment due to sale of receivables	0	0
Foreign currency translation adjustment	0	0
Balance at end of year	10	9
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment			0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment			10	9
Allowance, Ending balance	9	10	10	9
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment			0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment			4,479	5,093
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance			4,479	5,093
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Allowance for credit losses	2	3	2	2
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses
Balance at beginning of year	2	3
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 year	2	2
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment			0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment			2	2
Allowance, Ending balance	$ 2	$ 3	2	2
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment			0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment			2,431	2,601
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables, Ending Balance			$ 2,431	$ 2,601