Consolidated Statement of Changes in Stockholders' Equity (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified		Total	Common Stock	Treasury Stock	Profit employed in the business	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	Noncontrolling interests
Balance at Dec. 31, 2010		$ 10,864	$ 3,888	$ (10,397)	$ 21,384	$ (4,051)	$ 40
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Profit of consolidated and affliated companies		3,419	0	0	3,381	0	38
Foreign currency translation, net of tax		(212)	0	0	0	(244)	32
Pension and other postretirement benefits, net of tax		285	0	0	0	286	(1)
Derivative financial instruments, net of tax		3	0	0	0	3	0
Available-for-sale securities , net of tax		(13)	0	0	0	(13)	0
Change in ownership for noncontrolling interests		4	0	0	0	0	4
Dividends declared		(581)	0	0	(581)	0	0
Distribution to noncontrolling interests		(3)	0	0	0	0	(3)
Common shares issued from treasury stock for stock-based compensation: 6,400,328 and 7,797,655 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively		110	12	98	0	0	0
Stock-based compensation expense		163	163	0	0	0	0
Net excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation		166	166	0	0	0	0
Cat Japan share redemption	[1]	8	0	0	67	0	(59)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2011		14,213	4,229	(10,299)	24,251	(4,019)	51
Balance at Dec. 31, 2011		12,929	4,273	(10,281)	25,219	(6,328)	46
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity
Profit of consolidated and affliated companies		5,022	0	0	4,984	0	38
Foreign currency translation, net of tax		35	0	0	0	59	(24)
Pension and other postretirement benefits, net of tax		180	0	0	0	175	5
Derivative financial instruments, net of tax		(25)	0	0	0	(25)	0
Available-for-sale securities , net of tax		25	0	0	0	24	1
Change in ownership for noncontrolling interests		1	0	0	0	0	1
Dividends declared		(639)	0	0	(639)	0	0
Distribution to noncontrolling interests		(5)	0	0	0	0	(5)
Common shares issued from treasury stock for stock-based compensation: 6,400,328 and 7,797,655 for the nine months ended September 30, 2012 and 2011, respectively		41	(122)	163	0	0	0
Stock-based compensation expense		208	208	0	0	0	0
Net excess tax benefits from stock-based compensation		164	164	0	0	0	0
Cat Japan share redemption	[1]	0	(74)	0	(23)	107	(10)
Balance at Sep. 30, 2012		$ 17,936	$ 4,449	$ (10,118)	$ 29,541	$ (5,988)	$ 52

[1] 1 See Notes 1 and 16 regarding the Cat Japan share redemption.