2.2.0.25truefalse4200 - Disclosure - Guarantees and Product Warranty (Details)truefalseIn Millionsfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse12/31/2010
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$I2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDPerShareDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse12/31/2009
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$I2009http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDPerShareDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$3falsefalseUSDfalsefalse12/31/2008
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$I2008http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2008-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDPerShareDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$2true0cat_GuaranteesAndProductWarrantyDisclosureAbstractcatfalsenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalse3false0us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsCurrentCarryingValueus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse1000000010falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse1700000017falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse1400000014falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe current carrying amount of the liability for the freestanding or embedded guarantor's obligations under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 5
-Paragraph 9
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)
-Number 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph c
falsefalse4true0us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsLineItemsus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringLine 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.falsefalse5false0us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposureus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse420000000420falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse623000000623falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse579000000579falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryMaximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)
-Number 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph b
falsefalse6false0cat_FinancialSpecialPurposeCompanyVariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountAssetscatfalsedebitinstantThe carrying amount of the consolidated Financial Special-Purpose Company Variable Interest Entity's assets included in the...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse365000000365falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse231000000231falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse477000000477falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe carrying amount of the consolidated Financial Special-Purpose Company Variable Interest Entity's assets included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse7false0cat_FinancialSpecialPurposeCompanyVariableInterestEntityConsolidatedCarryingAmountLiabilitiescatfalsecreditinstantThe carrying amount of the consolidated Financial Special-Purpose Company Variable Interest Entity's liabilities included in...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse365000000365falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse231000000231falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse477000000477falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe carrying amount of the consolidated Financial Special-Purpose Company Variable Interest Entity's liabilities included in the reporting entity's statement of financial position.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse8false0cat_UnusedCommitmentsAndLinesOfCreditForDealerscatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the unused portion of commitments and lines of credit for dealers.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse64080000006408falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse73120000007312falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse89180000008918falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the unused portion of commitments and lines of credit for dealers.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse9false0cat_UnusedCommitmentsAndLinesOfCreditForCustomerscatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the unused portion of commitments and lines of credit for customers.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse26130000002613falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse20890000002089falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse30850000003085falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the unused portion of commitments and lines of credit for customers.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse10false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.cat.com/role/disclosureguaranteesandproductwarrantydetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis} : Caterpillar dealer guarantees
12/31/2010
USD ($)
$I2010_GuaranteeWithDealerMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseCaterpillar dealer guaranteesus-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_GuaranteeWithDealerMemberus-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$5falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis} : Caterpillar dealer guarantees
12/31/2009
USD ($)
$I2009_GuaranteeWithDealerMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseCaterpillar dealer guaranteesus-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_GuaranteeWithDealerMemberus-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$6falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis} : Caterpillar dealer guarantees
12/31/2008
USD ($)
$I2008_GuaranteeWithDealerMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2008-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseCaterpillar dealer guaranteesus-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_GuaranteeWithDealerMemberus-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse12true0us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsLineItemsus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringLine 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.falsefalse13false0us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposureus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse185000000185falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse313000000313falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse375000000375falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryMaximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)
-Number 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph b
falsefalse14false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.cat.com/role/disclosureguaranteesandproductwarrantydetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse7falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis} : Customer guarantees
12/31/2010
USD ($)
$I2010_GuaranteeWithCustomersMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseCustomer guaranteesus-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_GuaranteeWithCustomersMemberus-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$8falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis} : Customer guarantees
12/31/2009
USD ($)
$I2009_GuaranteeWithCustomersMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseCustomer guaranteesus-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_GuaranteeWithCustomersMemberus-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$9falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis} : Customer guarantees
12/31/2008
USD ($)
$I2008_GuaranteeWithCustomersMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2008-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseCustomer guaranteesus-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_GuaranteeWithCustomersMemberus-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse16true0us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsLineItemsus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringLine 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.falsefalse17false0us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposureus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse170000000170falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse226000000226falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse136000000136falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryMaximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)
-Number 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph b
falsefalse18false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.cat.com/role/disclosureguaranteesandproductwarrantydetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse10falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis} : Limited indemnity
12/31/2010
USD ($)
$I2010_IndemnificationGuaranteeMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseLimited indemnityus-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_IndemnificationGuaranteeMemberus-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$11falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis} : Limited indemnity
12/31/2009
USD ($)
$I2009_IndemnificationGuaranteeMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseLimited indemnityus-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_IndemnificationGuaranteeMemberus-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$12falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis} : Limited indemnity
12/31/2008
USD ($)
$I2008_IndemnificationGuaranteeMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2008-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseLimited indemnityus-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_IndemnificationGuaranteeMemberus-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse20true0us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsLineItemsus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringLine 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.falsefalse21false0us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposureus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse1700000017falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse2000000020falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse2500000025falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryMaximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)
-Number 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph b
falsefalse22false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.cat.com/role/disclosureguaranteesandproductwarrantydetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse13falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis} : Other guarantees
12/31/2010
USD ($)
$I2010_GuaranteeTypeOtherMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseOther guaranteesus-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_GuaranteeTypeOtherMemberus-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$14falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis} : Other guarantees
12/31/2009
USD ($)
$I2009_GuaranteeTypeOtherMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseOther guaranteesus-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_GuaranteeTypeOtherMemberus-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$15falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis} : Other guarantees
12/31/2008
USD ($)
$I2008_GuaranteeTypeOtherMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2008-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseOther guaranteesus-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_GuaranteeTypeOtherMemberus-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse24true0us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsLineItemsus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringLine 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.falsefalse25false0us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposureus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse4800000048falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse6400000064falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse4300000043falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryMaximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)
-Number 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph b
falsefalse320Guarantees and Product Warranty (Details) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue
