Finance Receivables (Details 5) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023	Mar. 31, 2023
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	$ 27,934	$ 28,077	$ 27,336
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	4,195	3,949	$ 4,731
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | 31-60 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	14	21
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | 61-90 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	6	10
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | 91+ days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	11	23
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Total Past Due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	31	54
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Current
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	4,164	3,895
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	2,490	2,236
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | 31-60 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	8	15
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | 61-90 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	4	5
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | 91+ days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	3	4
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | Total Past Due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	15	24
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | Current
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	2,475	2,212
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | EAME
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	670	737
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | EAME | 31-60 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	2	3
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | EAME | 61-90 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	1	1
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	4	5
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | EAME | Current
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	666	732
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	626	595
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific | 31-60 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	4	2
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific | 61-90 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	1	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific | 91+ days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	0	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific | Total Past Due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	5	2
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific | Current
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	621	593
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	406	371
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America | 31-60 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	0	1
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America | 61-90 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	0	4
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America | 91+ days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	7	18
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America | Total Past Due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	7	23
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America | Current
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	399	348
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Power
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	3	10
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Power | 31-60 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	0	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Power | 61-90 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	0	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Power | 91+ days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	0	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Power | Total Past Due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	0	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Power | Current
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	$ 3	$ 10