Cat Financial Financing Activities (Details C TDR) - Finance Receivables - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Customer
Loan and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs
Pre-TDR Amortized Cost	$ 62	$ 220	$ 209
Post-TDR Amortized Cost	52	220	204
TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date
Financing Receivable, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Subsequent Default	29	49	15
Customer | North America
Loan and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs
Pre-TDR Amortized Cost	6	13	11
Post-TDR Amortized Cost	6	13	11
TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date
Financing Receivable, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Subsequent Default	1	8	5
Customer | EMEA
Loan and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs
Pre-TDR Amortized Cost	3	0	17
Post-TDR Amortized Cost	3	0	17
TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date
Financing Receivable, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Subsequent Default	0	10	0
Customer | Asia/Pacific
Loan and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs
Pre-TDR Amortized Cost	4	12	0
Post-TDR Amortized Cost	4	12	0
TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date
Financing Receivable, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Subsequent Default	6	2	0
Customer | Mining
Loan and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs
Pre-TDR Amortized Cost	11	35	8
Post-TDR Amortized Cost	5	35	8
TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date
Financing Receivable, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Subsequent Default	0	10	0
Customer | Latin America
Loan and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs
Pre-TDR Amortized Cost	12	45	5
Post-TDR Amortized Cost	12	45	3
TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date
Financing Receivable, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Subsequent Default	15	1	0
Customer | Caterpillar Power Finance
Loan and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs
Pre-TDR Amortized Cost	26	115	168
Post-TDR Amortized Cost	22	115	165
TDRs with a payment default which had been modified within twelve months prior to the default date
Financing Receivable, Troubled Debt Restructuring, Subsequent Default	$ 7	$ 18	$ 10
Dealer
Loan and finance lease receivables modified as TDRs
Number of Contracts (in contracts)	0	0	0