Reconciliations of consolidated profit before taxes (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	$ 1,513	$ 2,264
Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	1,651	2,710
All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	7	25
Cost Centers
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	32	24
Corporate Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(167)	(176)
Timing
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(27)	(66)
Restructuring Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(28)	(39)
Inventory/cost of sales
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	20	7
Postretirement Benefits Expense
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	403	(17)
Stock-Based Compensation Expense [Member]
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(47)	(45)
Financing Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(80)	(64)
Currency
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(148)	44
Other Income Expense Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(92)	(129)
Other
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(11)	(10)
Operating Segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	1,658	2,735
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	1,546	2,499
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Operating Segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	1,408	2,058
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Operating Segments | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	1,546	2,499
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Operating Segments | All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	7	25
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Operating Segments | Cost Centers
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	32	24
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Operating Segments | Corporate Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(161)	(171)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Operating Segments | Timing
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(27)	(66)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Operating Segments | Restructuring Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(28)	(39)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Operating Segments | Inventory/cost of sales
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	20	7
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Operating Segments | Postretirement Benefits Expense
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	403	(17)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Operating Segments | Stock-Based Compensation Expense [Member]
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(45)	(43)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Operating Segments | Financing Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(80)	(64)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Operating Segments | Currency
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(148)	44
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Operating Segments | Other Income Expense Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(92)	(129)
Machinery, Energy & Transportation | Operating Segments | Other
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(19)	(12)
Financial Products | Operating Segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	105	206
Financial Products | Operating Segments | Reportable Segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	105	211
Financial Products | Operating Segments | All Other operating segments
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0
Financial Products | Operating Segments | Cost Centers
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0
Financial Products | Operating Segments | Corporate Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(6)	(5)
Financial Products | Operating Segments | Timing
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0
Financial Products | Operating Segments | Restructuring Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0
Financial Products | Operating Segments | Inventory/cost of sales
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0
Financial Products | Operating Segments | Postretirement Benefits Expense
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0
Financial Products | Operating Segments | Stock-Based Compensation Expense [Member]
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	(2)	(2)
Financial Products | Operating Segments | Financing Costs
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0
Financial Products | Operating Segments | Currency
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0
Financial Products | Operating Segments | Other Income Expense Methodology Differences
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	0	0
Financial Products | Operating Segments | Other
Reconciliation of Consolidated profit (loss) before taxes
Consolidated profit before taxes	$ 8	$ 2