Finance Receivables (Details 5) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Jun. 30, 2021
Receivables [Abstract]
Period after which unpaid installments are considered as past due	30 days
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	$ 26,739	$ 27,514	$ 27,538
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	3,979	4,462	$ 3,858
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | 31-60 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	21	10
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | 61-90 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	9	7
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | 91+ days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	12	7
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Total Past Due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	42	24
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Current
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	3,937	4,438
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	2,297	2,518
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | 31-60 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	12	8
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | 61-90 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	5	6
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | 91+ days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	8	5
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | Total Past Due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	25	19
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | Current
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	2,272	2,499
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | EAME
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	669	846
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	1	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | EAME | 91+ days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	2	1
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | EAME | Total Past Due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	4	2
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | EAME | Current
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	665	844
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	558	621
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific | 31-60 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	4	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	4	1
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific | Current
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	554	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	449	474
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America | 31-60 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	4	1
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America | 61-90 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	2	1
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America | 91+ days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	2	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America | Total Past Due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	8	2
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America | Current
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	441	472
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Caterpillar Power Finance
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total finance receivables	6	3
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	1	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	$ 5	$ 3