Cat Financial Financing Activities (Details 3 Credit quality of finance receivables) - Finance Receivables - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		$ 926
Current		21,471
Total Finance Receivables	$ 21,584	22,397
31-60 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		198
61-90 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		101
91 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		627
Customer
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Finance Receivables	18,006	18,687
Customer | North America
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		150
Current		8,002
Total Finance Receivables		8,152
Customer | North America | 31-60 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		72
Customer | North America | 61-90 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		23
Customer | North America | 91 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		55
Customer | EAME
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		202
Current		2,882
Total Finance Receivables		3,084
Customer | EAME | 31-60 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		30
Customer | EAME | 61-90 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		31
Customer | EAME | 91 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		141
Customer | Asia Pacific
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		83
Current		2,181
Total Finance Receivables		2,264
Customer | Asia Pacific | 31-60 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		40
Customer | Asia Pacific | 61-90 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		14
Customer | Asia Pacific | 91 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		29
Customer | Mining
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		24
Current		2,266
Total Finance Receivables		2,290
Customer | Mining | 31-60 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		5
Customer | Mining | 61-90 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Customer | Mining | 91 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		19
Customer | Latin America
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		144
Current		1,089
Total Finance Receivables		1,233
Customer | Latin America | 31-60 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		41
Customer | Latin America | 61-90 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		23
Customer | Latin America | 91 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		80
Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		245
Current		1,419
Total Finance Receivables		1,664
Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance | 31-60 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		10
Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance | 61-90 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		10
Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance | 91 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		225
Dealer
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Finance Receivables	$ 3,578	3,710
Dealer | North America
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Current		2,136
Total Finance Receivables		2,136
Dealer | North America | 31-60 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | North America | 61-90 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | North America | 91 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | EAME
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Current		342
Total Finance Receivables		342
Dealer | EAME | 31-60 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | EAME | 61-90 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | EAME | 91 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | Asia Pacific
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Current		437
Total Finance Receivables		437
Dealer | Asia Pacific | 31-60 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | Asia Pacific | 61-90 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | Asia Pacific | 91 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | Mining
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Current		4
Total Finance Receivables		4
Dealer | Mining | 31-60 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | Mining | 61-90 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | Mining | 91 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | Latin America
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		78
Current		712
Total Finance Receivables		790
Dealer | Latin America | 31-60 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | Latin America | 61-90 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | Latin America | 91 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		78
Dealer | Caterpillar Power Finance
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Current		1
Total Finance Receivables		1
Dealer | Caterpillar Power Finance | 31-60 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | Caterpillar Power Finance | 61-90 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		0
Dealer | Caterpillar Power Finance | 91 days past due
Aging related to loans and finance leases
Total Past Due		$ 0