Finance Receivables (Details 5) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	$ 552	$ 579
Customer | North America
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	66	66
Customer | Europe
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	37	35
Customer | Asia/Pacific
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	15	12
Customer | Mining
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	56	69
Customer | Latin America
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	308	307
Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	70	90
Dealer
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	0	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Europe
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	$ 1	$ 1