Cat Financial Financing Activities - Contractual maturities of outstanding wholesale inventory receivables (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Dec. 31, 2025	Dec. 31, 2024
Finance receivables
Total	$ 25,150	$ 23,029
Wholesale receivables
Finance receivables
2026	1,158
2027	518
2028	271
2029	100
2030	44
Thereafter	18
Total	2,109
Guaranteed residual value	61
Unguaranteed residual value	30
Less: Unearned income	(31)
Total	2,169	$ 1,750
Wholesale receivables \| Wholesale Loans
Finance receivables
2026	1,128
2027	497
2028	256
2029	91
2030	39
Thereafter	17
Total	2,028
Guaranteed residual value	39
Unguaranteed residual value	9
Less: Unearned income	(22)
Total	2,054
Wholesale receivables \| Wholesale Leases
Finance receivables
2026	30
2027	21
2028	15
2029	9
2030	5
Thereafter	1
Total	81
Guaranteed residual value	22
Unguaranteed residual value	21
Less: Unearned income	(9)
Total	$ 115

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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
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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.

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

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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Period Type: