Credit commitments (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) facilities
Credit lines available:
Credit lines available	$ 15,499
Less: Commercial paper outstanding	(4,168)
Less: Utilized credit	(1,247)
Available credit	(10,084)
Consolidated net worth	14,630
Minimum consolidated net worth required under credit facilities	9,000
Utilized credit	(1,247)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation
Credit lines available:
Credit lines available	2,945
Less: Commercial paper outstanding	0
Less: Utilized credit	0
Available credit	(2,945)
Utilized credit	0
Financial Products Segment
Credit lines available:
Credit lines available	12,554
Less: Commercial paper outstanding	(4,168)
Less: Utilized credit	(1,247)
Available credit	(7,139)
Utilized credit	(1,247)
Global credit facilities
Credit lines available:
Credit lines available	10,500
Less: Utilized credit	$ 0
Number of global credit facilities | facilities	3
Utilized credit	$ 0
Global credit facilities | Machinery, Energy & Transportation
Credit lines available:
Credit lines available	2,751
Global credit facilities | Financial Products Segment
Credit lines available:
Credit lines available	7,749
Other Consolidated Credit Lines
Credit lines available:
Credit lines available	4,999
Other Consolidated Credit Lines | Machinery, Energy & Transportation
Credit lines available:
Credit lines available	194
Other Consolidated Credit Lines | Financial Products Segment
Credit lines available:
Credit lines available	$ 4,805
Cat Financial
Credit lines available:
Interest coverage ratio, numerator	1.77
Interest coverage ratio, denominator	1
Minimum interest coverage ratio required under credit facilities, numerator	1.15
Minimum interest coverage ratio required under credit facilities, denominator	1
Six-month leverage ratio, numerator	7.65
Six month leverage ratio, denominator	1
Year-end leverage ratio, numerator	7.46
Year-end leverage ratio denominator	1
Maximum leverage ratio permissible under credit facility, numerator	10
Maximum leverage ratio permissible under credit facility, denominator	1
364-day credit facility | Global credit facilities
Credit lines available:
Credit lines available	$ 3,150
Duration of credit facility (in years or days)	364 days
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date	Sep. 30, 2020
364-day credit facility | Global credit facilities | Machinery, Energy & Transportation
Credit lines available:
Credit lines available	$ 820
Three-year facility | Global credit facilities
Credit lines available:
Credit lines available	$ 2,730
Duration of credit facility (in years or days)	3 years
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date	Sep. 30, 2022
Three-year facility | Global credit facilities | Machinery, Energy & Transportation
Credit lines available:
Credit lines available	$ 720
Five-year facility | Global credit facilities
Credit lines available:
Credit lines available	$ 4,620
Duration of credit facility (in years or days)	5 years
Line of Credit Facility, Expiration Date	Sep. 30, 2024
Five-year facility | Global credit facilities | Machinery, Energy & Transportation
Credit lines available:
Credit lines available	$ 1,210