Credit Commitments (Details) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Line of Credit Facility
Number of global credit facilities	3	3
Caterpillar's consolidated net worth	$ 14,630	$ 14,630
Minimum net worth required under the Credit Facility	$ 9,000	$ 9,000
Covenant interest coverage ratio, Numerator		1.77
Covenant interest coverage ratio, Denominator		1
Minimum interest coverage ratio, required by the Credit Facility, Numerator		1.15
Minimum interest coverage ratio, required by the Credit Facility, Denominator		1
Leverage Ratio, Numerator	7.65	7.46
Leverage Ratio, Denominator	1	1
Maximum Leverage Ratio, Permissible Under Credit Facility, Numerator		10
Maximum Leverage Ratio, Permissible Under Credit Facility, Denominator		1
Amount available	$ 10,500	$ 10,500
Short-term borrowings, Balance	5,161	5,161	$ 5,723
Maximum borrowing capacity from Caterpillar, Variable lending agreements	2,610	2,610
Maximum lending capacity to Caterpillar, Variable lending agreements	2,050	$ 2,050
Term lending agreements, maximum remaining maturity		9 years
Notes receivable from Caterpillar	296	$ 296	662	$ 559
Notes payable to Caterpillar	618	618	1,518	$ 1,638
Revolving credit facilities
Line of Credit Facility
Amount outstanding	0	0
Revolving credit facilities | Cat Financial
Line of Credit Facility
Amount available	7,750	7,750
364-day facility
Line of Credit Facility
Amount available	3,150	3,150
364-day facility | Cat Financial
Line of Credit Facility
Amount available	2,330	2,330
Three-year facility
Line of Credit Facility
Amount available	2,730	2,730
Three-year facility | Cat Financial
Line of Credit Facility
Amount available	2,010	2,010
Five-year facility
Line of Credit Facility
Amount available	4,620	4,620
Five-year facility | Cat Financial
Line of Credit Facility
Amount available	3,410	3,410
Credit lines with banks
Line of Credit Facility
Amount available	4,810	4,810
Amount outstanding	1,250	1,250	1,170
Variable denomination floating rate demand notes
Line of Credit Facility
Short-term borrowings, Balance	388	388	$ 438
Maximum amount of variable denomination floating rate demand notes outstanding	$ 1,250	$ 1,250