Finance Receivables (Details 5) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021
Receivables [Abstract]
Period after which unpaid installments are considered as past due	30 days
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	$ 27,712	$ 27,514	$ 26,941
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	4,647	4,462	$ 4,065
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | 31-60 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	12	10
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | 61-90 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	13	7
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | 91+ days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	6	7
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Total Past Due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	31	24
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Current
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	4,616	4,438
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	2,503	2,518
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | 31-60 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	5	8
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | 61-90 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	12	6
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | 91+ days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	5	5
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | Total Past Due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	22	19
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | Current
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	2,481	2,499
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | EAME
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	717	846
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | EAME | 31-60 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	2	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	3	2
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | EAME | Current
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	714	844
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	886	621
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific | 31-60 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	1	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific | 61-90 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	0	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific | 91+ days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	0	1
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific | Total Past Due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	1	1
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific | Current
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	885	620
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	536	474
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America | 31-60 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	3	1
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America | 61-90 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	1	1
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	4	2
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America | Current
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	532	472
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Caterpillar Power Finance
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	5	3
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Caterpillar Power Finance | 31-60 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	1	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	1	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Caterpillar Power Finance | Current
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	$ 4	$ 3