Cat Financial Financing Activities (Details 4) - USD ($) $ in Millions	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Period after which Collection of Future Income is Considered as Not Probable	120 days
Finance Receivables | Dealer | Latin America
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Loans and Leases Receivable, Nonperforming, Nonaccrual of Interest	$ 81	$ 78
Finance Receivables | Customer
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Loans and Leases Receivable, Nonperforming, Nonaccrual of Interest	744	807
Finance Receivables | Customer | North America
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Loans and Leases Receivable, Nonperforming, Nonaccrual of Interest	38	77
Finance Receivables | Customer | EAME
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Loans and Leases Receivable, Nonperforming, Nonaccrual of Interest	168	154
Finance Receivables | Customer | Asia Pacific
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Loans and Leases Receivable, Nonperforming, Nonaccrual of Interest	19	4
Finance Receivables | Customer | Mining
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Loans and Leases Receivable, Nonperforming, Nonaccrual of Interest	44	50
Finance Receivables | Customer | Latin America
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Loans and Leases Receivable, Nonperforming, Nonaccrual of Interest	103	106
Finance Receivables | Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance
Financing Receivable, Recorded Investment, Past Due
Loans and Leases Receivable, Nonperforming, Nonaccrual of Interest	$ 372	$ 416