Represents the aggregate amounts due on wholesale inventory receivables.

No definition available.

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesAggregateMaturities
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due within the next twelve months, following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInNextTwelveMonths
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due in year five, following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInYearFive
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due in year four, following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInYearFour
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due in year three, following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInYearThree
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due in year two, following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInYearTwo
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due after year five, following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueThereafter
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the guaranteed residual value of wholesale inventory receivables.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesGuaranteedResidualValue
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the unguaranteed residual value of wholesale inventory receivables.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesUnguaranteedResidualValue
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsNotesAndLoansReceivableLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of deferred interest and fee income, unamortized costs incurred to originate loans and leases, unamortized loan commitments and loan syndication fees, and premiums over or discounts from face amounts of acquired loans. Excludes amounts for loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=35738203&loc=d3e5074-111524

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 310

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 3

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6378556&loc=d3e10152-111534

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 840

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (a)(4)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496975&loc=d3e45377-112738

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 942

-SubTopic 210

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03.7)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 03

-Paragraph 7

-Article 9

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableDeferredIncome
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount before allowance and after deduction of deferred interest and fees, unamortized costs and premiums and discounts from face amounts, of loans and leases held in portfolio, including but not limited to, commercial and consumer loans. Excludes loans and leases covered under loss sharing agreements.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LoansAndLeasesReceivableNetOfDeferredIncome
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Cat Financial Financing Activities (Details) (Wholesale Receivables, USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Contractual maturities of wholesale inventory receivables
2015	$ 1,176
2016	456
2017	330
2018	83
2019	22
Thereafter	5
Total Amounts Due	2,072
Guaranteed residual value	98
Unguaranteed residual value	38
Less: Unearned Income	(38)
Total	2,170	1,945	2,152
Wholesale Installment Contracts
Contractual maturities of wholesale inventory receivables
2015	200
2016	109
2017	70
2018	39
2019	15
Thereafter	3
Total Amounts Due	436
Guaranteed residual value	0
Unguaranteed residual value	0
Less: Unearned Income	(7)
Total	429
Wholesale Finance Leases
Contractual maturities of wholesale inventory receivables
2015	109
2016	85
2017	58
2018	27
2019	7
Thereafter	2
Total Amounts Due	288
Guaranteed residual value	98
Unguaranteed residual value	38
Less: Unearned Income	(28)
Total	396
Wholesale Notes
Contractual maturities of wholesale inventory receivables
2015	867
2016	262
2017	202
2018	17
2019	0
Thereafter	0
Total Amounts Due	1,348
Guaranteed residual value	0
Unguaranteed residual value	0
Less: Unearned Income	(3)
Total	$ 1,345