Finance Receivables - Aging Related to Finance Receivables (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Sep. 30, 2024	Dec. 31, 2023	Sep. 30, 2023
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	$ 29,405	$ 28,077	$ 27,542
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	4,314	3,949	$ 4,381
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | 31-60 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	17	21
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | 61-90 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	8	10
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | 91+ days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	8	23
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Total Past Due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	33	54
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Current
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	4,281	3,895
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	2,496	2,236
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | 31-60 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	10	15
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | 61-90 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	5	5
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | 91+ days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	5	4
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | Total Past Due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	20	24
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | North America | Current
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	2,476	2,212
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | EAME
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	818	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	2	1
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | EAME | 91+ days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	3	1
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | EAME | Total Past Due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	7	5
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | EAME | Current
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	811	732
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	600	595
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	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	0	2
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Asia/Pacific | Current
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	600	593
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	366	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	0	18
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America | Total Past Due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	0	23
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Latin America | Current
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	366	348
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Power
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	34	10
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Power | 31-60 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	5	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Power | 61-90 days past due
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	1	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	6	0
Caterpillar Purchased Receivables | Power | Current
Financing Receivable, Past Due
Total Finance Receivables	$ 28	$ 10