Finance Receivables (Details 5) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Receivables [Abstract]
Period after which unpaid installments are considered as past due	30 days
Period after which collection of future income is considered as not probable	120 days
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	$ 27,514	$ 27,054
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	4,462	3,646
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | 31-60 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	10	17
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | 61-90 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	7	12
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | 91+ days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	7	8
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Total Past Due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	24	37
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Current
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	4,438	3,609
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	2,518	1,920
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | 31-60 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	8	14
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | 61-90 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	6	11
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | 91+ days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	5	6
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | Total Past Due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	19	31
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | Current
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	2,499	1,889
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | EAME
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	846	634
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | EAME | 31-60 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	1	1
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | EAME | 61-90 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	0	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | EAME | 91+ days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	1	1
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | EAME | Total Past Due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	2	2
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | EAME | Current
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	844	632
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	621	585
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific | 31-60 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	0	2
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific | 61-90 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	0	1
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific | 91+ days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	1	1
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific | Total Past Due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	1	4
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific | Current
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	620	581
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Mining
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	0	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Mining | 31-60 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	0	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Mining | 61-90 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	0	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Mining | 91+ days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	0	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Mining | Total Past Due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	0	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Mining | Current
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	0	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	474	501
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America | 31-60 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	1	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America | 61-90 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	1	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America | 91+ days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	0	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America | Total Past Due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	2	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America | Current
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	472	501
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Caterpillar Power Finance
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	3	6
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Caterpillar Power Finance | 31-60 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	0	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Caterpillar Power Finance | 61-90 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	0	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Caterpillar Power Finance | 91+ days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	0	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Caterpillar Power Finance | Total Past Due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	0	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Caterpillar Power Finance | Current
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	$ 3	$ 6