Finance Receivables (Details 5) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	$ 703	$ 579
Customer | North America
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	57	66
Customer | Europe
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	51	35
Customer | Asia/Pacific
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	11	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	284	307
Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	244	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