Cat Financial Financing Activities (Details) - Finance Receivables - USD ($) $ in Millions	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Allowance for Credit Loss Activity
Balance at beginning of year	$ 341	$ 336
Receivables written off	(62)	(158)
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	21	35
Provision for credit losses	31	133
Other	4	(5)
Balance at end of period	335	341
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment			$ 113	$ 85
Collectively evaluated for impairment			222	256
Ending Balance	341	336	335	341
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment			898	786
Collectively evaluated for impairment			21,524	21,611
Ending balance-recorded investment in finance receivables			22,422	22,397
Customer
Allowance for Credit Loss Activity
Balance at beginning of year	331	327
Receivables written off	(62)	(158)
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	21	35
Provision for credit losses	31	132
Other	4	(5)
Balance at end of period	325	331
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment			113	85
Collectively evaluated for impairment			212	246
Ending Balance	331	327	325	331
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment			898	786
Collectively evaluated for impairment			18,101	18,236
Ending balance-recorded investment in finance receivables			18,999	19,022
Dealer
Allowance for Credit Loss Activity
Balance at beginning of year	10	9
Receivables written off	0	0
Recoveries on receivables previously written off	0	0
Provision for credit losses	0	1
Other	0	0
Balance at end of period	10	10
Allowance for Credit Losses
Individually evaluated for impairment			0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment			10	10
Ending Balance	$ 10	$ 9	10	10
Recorded Investment in Finance Receivables
Individually evaluated for impairment			0	0
Collectively evaluated for impairment			3,423	3,375
Ending balance-recorded investment in finance receivables			$ 3,423	$ 3,375