Cat Financial Financing Activities - Contractual maturities of outstanding wholesale inventory receivables (Details) - Wholesale receivables - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022
Contractual maturities of wholesale inventory receivables
2024	$ 1,023
2025	237
2026	228
2027	58
2028	22
Thereafter	3
Total	1,571
Guaranteed residual value	54
Unguaranteed residual value	26
Less: Unearned income	(19)
Total	1,632	$ 1,102
Wholesale Loans
Contractual maturities of wholesale inventory receivables
2024	981
2025	203
2026	210
2027	49
2028	17
Thereafter	2
Total	1,462
Guaranteed residual value	33
Unguaranteed residual value	2
Less: Unearned income	(7)
Total	1,490
Wholesale Leases
Contractual maturities of wholesale inventory receivables
2024	42
2025	34
2026	18
2027	9
2028	5
Thereafter	1
Total	109
Guaranteed residual value	21
Unguaranteed residual value	24
Less: Unearned income	(12)
Total	$ 142

Represents the aggregate amounts due on wholesale inventory receivables.

No definition available.

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesAggregateMaturities
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due within the next twelve months, following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInNextTwelveMonths
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due in year five, following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInYearFive
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due in year four, following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInYearFour
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due in year three, following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInYearThree
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due in year two, following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInYearTwo
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due after year five, following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueThereafter
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the guaranteed residual value of wholesale inventory receivables.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesGuaranteedResidualValue
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the unguaranteed residual value of wholesale inventory receivables.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesUnguaranteedResidualValue
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

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.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount of unamortized loan commitment, origination, and other costs (fees) and purchase premium (discount) on financing receivable recognized as adjustment to yield. Excludes financing receivable covered under loss sharing agreement.

+ References

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+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinancingReceivableUnamortizedLoanCommitmentOriginationFeeAndPremiumDiscount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amortized cost, before allowance for credit loss, of financing receivable. Excludes financing receivable covered under loss sharing agreement and net investment in lease.

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+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NotesReceivableGross
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AccountsNotesLoansAndFinancingReceivableByReceivableTypeAxis=cat_WholesaleReceivablesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesAxis=cat_WholesaleloansMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesAxis=cat_WholesaleLeasesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: