Finance Receivables (Details 5) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	$ 635	$ 683
Customer | North America
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	50	38
Customer | Europe
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	50	37
Customer | Asia/Pacific
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	8	10
Customer | Mining
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	14	63
Customer | Latin America
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	174	192
Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	339	343
Dealer
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status		0
Dealer | Latin America
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	73
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Europe
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Recorded investment in finance receivables on non-accrual status	$ 1	$ 1