Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Billions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016
Document And Entity Information1
Entity Registrant Name	CATERPILLAR INC
Entity Central Index Key	0000018230
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2016
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float		$ 44.1
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	586,486,024
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY