Derivative Financial instruments and Risk Management- Gain and Loss on Hedging instruments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Fair Value / Undesignated Hedges
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss)
Gains (Losses) recognized in Statement 1	$ (113)	$ (12)	$ 184
Fair Value / Undesignated Hedges \| Foreign exchange contracts
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss)
Gains (Losses) recognized in Statement 1	12	(57)	104
Fair Value / Undesignated Hedges \| Interest rate contracts
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss)
Gains (Losses) recognized in Statement 1	(135)	(6)	24
Fair Value / Undesignated Hedges \| Commodity contracts
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss)
Gains (Losses) recognized in Statement 1	10	51	56
Designated derivatives \| Cash Flow Hedges
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss)
Gains (Losses) Recognized in AOCI	48	375	195
Gains (losses) reclassified from AOCI	(3)	340	196
Designated derivatives \| Cash Flow Hedges \| Foreign exchange contracts
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss)
Gains (Losses) Recognized in AOCI	39	264	169
Gains (losses) reclassified from AOCI	(58)	329	227
Designated derivatives \| Cash Flow Hedges \| Interest rate contracts
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss)
Gains (Losses) Recognized in AOCI	9	111	26
Gains (losses) reclassified from AOCI	55	11	(31)
Designated derivatives \| Cash Flow Hedges \| Commodity contracts
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss)
Gains (Losses) Recognized in AOCI	0	0	0
Gains (losses) reclassified from AOCI	$ 0	$ 0	$ 0

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4E
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480434/815-10-50-4E

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate net gain (loss) on all derivative instruments recognized in earnings during the period, before tax effects.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4A
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480434/815-10-50-4A

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainLossOnDerivativeInstrumentsNetPretax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, before tax and reclassification, of gain (loss) from derivative instrument designated and qualifying cash flow hedge included in assessment of hedge effectiveness.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 11
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482790/220-10-45-11

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4C
-Subparagraph (b)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480434/815-10-50-4C

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 20
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480627/815-20-45-3

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 815
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4A
-Subparagraph (b)(2)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147480434/815-10-50-4A

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 10A
-Subparagraph (d)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org//1943274/2147482790/220-10-45-10A

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossBeforeReclassificationAndTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, before tax, of reclassification of gain (loss) from accumulated other comprehensive income (AOCI) for derivative instrument designated and qualifying as cash flow hedge included in assessment of hedge effectiveness.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossCashFlowHedgeGainLossReclassificationBeforeTax
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis=cat_FairValueUndesignatedHedgesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_ForeignExchangeContractMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_InterestRateContractMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentRiskAxis=us-gaap_CommodityContractMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_HedgingDesignationAxis=us-gaap_DesignatedAsHedgingInstrumentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DerivativeInstrumentsGainLossByHedgingRelationshipAxis=us-gaap_CashFlowHedgingMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: