Credit Commitments (Details) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2023 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Line of Credit Facility
Number of global credit facilities	3	3
Caterpillar's consolidated net worth	$ 19,550	$ 19,550
Minimum net worth required under the Credit Facility	$ 9,000	$ 9,000
Covenant interest coverage ratio, Numerator		1.73
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	6.88	6.95
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
Maximum borrowing capacity from Caterpillar, Variable lending agreements	2,440	2,440
Maximum lending capacity to Caterpillar, Variable lending agreements	2,140	$ 2,140
Term lending agreements, maximum remaining maturity		10 years
Caterpillar
Line of Credit Facility
Maximum borrowing capacity from Caterpillar, Variable lending agreements	2,440	$ 2,440
Maximum lending capacity to Caterpillar, Variable lending agreements	2,140	2,140
Notes receivable from Caterpillar	527	527	$ 482	$ 389
Notes Payable	24	24	23	$ 22
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	3,540	3,540
Amount outstanding	$ 853	$ 853	$ 979