Dealer performance guarantees with unlimited potential payment to end users.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percent of the reporting entity's equity method investment which has been sold.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the unused portion of commitments and lines of credit for dealers.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

The current carrying amount of the liability for the freestanding or embedded guarantor's obligations under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 460
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12069-110248

+ Details

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Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 460
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6851643&loc=d3e12069-110248

+ Details

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

- Definition

Unused amount of commitments to extend credit to customers.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The carrying amount of the consolidated Variable Interest Entity's assets included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 810
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (bb)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64801991&loc=d3e5710-111685

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying amount of the consolidated Variable Interest Entity's liabilities included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position.

+ References

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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Guarantees and product warranty (Details) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2015
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Dealer performance guarantees with unlimited potential payment	2
Related liability	$ 8	$ 12
Guarantor Obligations
Guarantees, maximum potential amount of future payments	1,856	681
Special-Purpose Company's assets in Consolidated Statement of Financial Position	1,088	1,211
Special-Purpose Company's liabilities in Consolidated Statement of Financial Position	1,087	1,210
Unused commitments and lines of credit for dealers	12,775	12,920
Unused commitments and lines of credit for customers	3,340	3,567
Caterpillar dealer performance guarantees
Guarantor Obligations
Guarantees, maximum potential amount of future payments	1,384	216
Customer loan guarantees
Guarantor Obligations
Guarantees, maximum potential amount of future payments	51	47
Supplier consortium performance guarantee
Guarantor Obligations
Guarantees, maximum potential amount of future payments	278	286
Third party logistics business guarantees
Guarantor Obligations
Guarantees, maximum potential amount of future payments	87	107
Other guarantees
Guarantor Obligations
Guarantees, maximum potential amount of future payments	$ 56	$ 25
Third party logistics business, investment
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Equity Method Investment, Percentage Sold			35.00%