Segment information (Details 3) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	$ 139	$ 3,439	$ 3,152
Reportable segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	3,527	6,065	7,886
All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(77)	(75)	19
Cost Centers
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	8	20	(12)
Corporate Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(527)	(600)	(674)
Timing
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	40	95	(245)
Restructuring Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(1,019)	(898)	(432)
Inventory/cost of sales
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	(100)	55
Postretirement Benefits Expense
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(788)	131	(2,434)
Stock-Based Compensation Expense
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(218)	(283)	(254)
Financing Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(517)	(524)	(502)
Currency
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(22)	(261)	31
Other Income Expense Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(225)	(95)	(249)
Other
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(43)	(36)	(37)
Business
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	3,450	5,990	7,905
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Reportable segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	2,825	5,256	6,985
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(553)	2,617	2,243
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Reportable segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	2,825	5,256	6,985
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(77)	(75)	19
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Cost Centers
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	8	20	(12)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Corporate Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(527)	(600)	(674)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Timing
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	40	95	(245)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Restructuring Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(1,014)	(881)	(432)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Inventory/cost of sales
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	(100)	55
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Postretirement Benefits Expense
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(788)	131	(2,434)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Stock-Based Compensation Expense
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(209)	(270)	(242)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Financing Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(517)	(524)	(502)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Currency
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(22)	(261)	31
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Other Income Expense Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(225)	(95)	(249)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Other
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(47)	(79)	(57)
Financial Products | Business
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	692	822	909
Financial Products | Business | Reportable segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	702	809	901
Financial Products | Business | All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Cost Centers
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Corporate Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Timing
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Restructuring Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(5)	(17)	0
Financial Products | Business | Inventory/cost of sales
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Postretirement Benefits Expense
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Stock-Based Compensation Expense
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(9)	(13)	(12)
Financial Products | Business | Financing Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Currency
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Other Income Expense Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Other
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	$ 4	$ 43	$ 20