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Changes in Consolidated Stockholders' Equity (Parenthetical) (Parentheticals)
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Mar. 31, 2014
Sep. 30, 2013
Jun. 30, 2013
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Statement of Stockholders' Equity [Abstract]              
Common shares issued from treasury stock for stock-based compensation (in shares)         10,106,542cat_CommonSharesIssuedSharesFromTreasuryStockForStockBasedCompensation 6,258,692cat_CommonSharesIssuedSharesFromTreasuryStockForStockBasedCompensation 7,515,149cat_CommonSharesIssuedSharesFromTreasuryStockForStockBasedCompensation
Common shares repurchased (in shares) 23,651,590us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired 18,110,735us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired 11,942,737us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired 11,542,106us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired 41,762,325us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired 23,484,843us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired 0us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired