Segment information (Details 5) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	$ 74,704	$ 78,342	$ 84,498
Reportable segments
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	55,517	59,605	62,826
All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	1,381	1,405	1,548
Cash and Short Term Investments
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	5,257	5,340	6,317
Intercompany Receivables
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0	0
Investment in Financial Products
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0	0
Deferred income taxes
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	2,701	2,415	2,210
Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	3,883	3,571	3,492
Property Plant and Equipment-Net and Other Assets
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	1,645	1,585	1,766
Operating Lease Methodology Difference
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	(186)	(213)	(213)
Liabilities Included in Segment Assets
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	7,400	8,017	9,851
Inventory Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	(2,373)	(2,646)	(2,697)
Other
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	(521)	(737)	(602)
Consolidating Adjustments
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	(6,354)	(5,845)	(6,375)
Consolidating Adjustments | Reportable segments
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Cash and Short Term Investments
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Intercompany Receivables
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	(1,713)	(1,087)	(1,185)
Consolidating Adjustments | Investment in Financial Products
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	(3,638)	(3,888)	(4,488)
Consolidating Adjustments | Deferred income taxes
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	(947)	(793)	(633)
Consolidating Adjustments | Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Property Plant and Equipment-Net and Other Assets
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Operating Lease Methodology Difference
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Liabilities Included in Segment Assets
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Inventory Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0	0
Consolidating Adjustments | Other
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	(56)	(77)	(69)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Reportable segments
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	20,293	23,876	25,857
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	45,863	48,551	54,047
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Reportable segments
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	20,293	23,876	25,857
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	1,381	1,405	1,548
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Cash and Short Term Investments
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	5,257	5,340	6,317
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Intercompany Receivables
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	1,713	1,087	1,185
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Investment in Financial Products
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	3,638	3,888	4,488
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Deferred income taxes
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	3,648	3,208	2,843
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	3,883	3,571	3,492
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Property Plant and Equipment-Net and Other Assets
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	1,645	1,585	1,766
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Operating Lease Methodology Difference
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	(186)	(213)	(213)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Liabilities Included in Segment Assets
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	7,400	8,017	9,851
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Inventory Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	(2,373)	(2,646)	(2,697)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Business | Other
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	(436)	(567)	(390)
Financial Products | Business
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	35,195	35,636	36,826
Financial Products | Business | Reportable segments
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	35,224	35,729	36,969
Financial Products | Business | All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Cash and Short Term Investments
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Intercompany Receivables
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Investment in Financial Products
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Deferred income taxes
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Goodwill and Intangible Assets
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Property Plant and Equipment-Net and Other Assets
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Operating Lease Methodology Difference
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Liabilities Included in Segment Assets
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Inventory Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	0	0	0
Financial Products | Business | Other
Reconciliation of assets
Total assets	$ (29)	$ (93)	$ (143)