2.2.0.25truefalse4222 - Disclosure - Segment information (Details 3)truefalseIn Millionsfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
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USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
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USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 131
-Paragraph 27
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differences.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse16false0us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestmentsus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse37500000003750falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse569000000569falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse45010000004501falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetarySum of operating profit and nonoperating income (expense) before income (loss) from equity method investments, income taxes, extraordinary items, cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles, and noncontrolling interest.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 08
-Paragraph h
-Subparagraph 1(i)
-Article 4
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1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
$D2010_MachineryEnginesMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseMachinery and Enginesus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_MachineryEnginesMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$5falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxis} : Machinery and Engines
1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
$D2009_MachineryEnginesMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseMachinery and Enginesus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_MachineryEnginesMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$6falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxis} : Machinery and Engines
1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
USD ($)
$D2008_MachineryEnginesMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230duration2008-01-01T00:00:002008-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseMachinery and Enginesus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_MachineryEnginesMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse18true0us-gaap_SegmentReportingReconcilingItemForOperatingProfitLossFromSegmentToConsolidatedLineItemsus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringLine items represent financial concepts included in a table. 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available.falsefalse22false0cat_TimingDifferencesReconcilingItemcatfalsecreditdurationThis element represents amount of profit or losses from timing difference adjustments before taxes.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse-87000000-87falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse188000000188falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-30000000-30falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents amount of profit or losses from timing difference adjustments before taxes.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse23false0cat_RedundancyCostsReconcilingAdjustmentcatfalsecreditdurationThis element represents amount of profit or losses from redundancy cost adjustments before 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available.falsefalse30false0cat_OtherMethodologyDifferencesReconcilingItemcatfalsecreditdurationRepresents the amount of other methodology differences.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse-30000000-30falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-5000000-5falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse3200000032falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents the amount of other methodology differences.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse31false0us-gaap_IncomeLossFromContinuingOperationsBeforeIncomeTaxesMinorityInterestAndIncomeLossFromEquityMethodInvestmentsus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse33030000003303falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse174000000174falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse39470000003947falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetarySum of operating profit and nonoperating income (expense) before 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-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 08
-Paragraph h
-Subparagraph 1(i)
-Article 4
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{us-gaap_SegmentReportingRevenueReconcilingItemAxis} : Reportable segments
1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
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{us-gaap_SegmentReportingRevenueReconcilingItemAxis} : Reportable segments
1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
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{us-gaap_SegmentReportingRevenueReconcilingItemAxis} : Reportable segments
1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
USD ($)
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 131
-Paragraph 27
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1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
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1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
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1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
USD ($)
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-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 08
-Paragraph h
-Subparagraph 1(i)
-Article 4
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{us-gaap_SegmentReportingRevenueReconcilingItemAxis} : Reportable segments
1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
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{us-gaap_SegmentReportingRevenueReconcilingItemAxis} : Reportable segments
1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
$D2009_FinancialProductsMember_ReportableSegmentsMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseFinancial Productsus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_FinancialProductsMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseReportable segmentsus-gaap_SegmentReportingRevenueReconcilingItemAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_ReportableSegmentsMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingRevenueReconcilingItemAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$15falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxis} : Financial Products
{us-gaap_SegmentReportingRevenueReconcilingItemAxis} : Reportable segments
1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
USD ($)
$D2008_FinancialProductsMember_ReportableSegmentsMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230duration2008-01-01T00:00:002008-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseFinancial Productsus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_FinancialProductsMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationBySegmentAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseReportable segmentsus-gaap_SegmentReportingRevenueReconcilingItemAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_ReportableSegmentsMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingRevenueReconcilingItemAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse45true0us-gaap_SegmentReportingReconcilingItemForOperatingProfitLossFromSegmentToConsolidatedLineItemsus-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.falsefalse46false0us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationOperatingIncomeLossus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse429000000429falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse399000000399falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse548000000548falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of income or loss for the reportable segment before unusual Items, equity method income or loss, income taxes, and extraordinary items.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 131
-Paragraph 27
falsefalse48false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.cat.com/role/disclosuresegmentinformationdetails31falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse16falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_SegmentReportingRevenueReconcilingItemAxis} : Reportable segments
1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
$D2010_ReportableSegmentsMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseReportable segmentsus-gaap_SegmentReportingRevenueReconcilingItemAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_ReportableSegmentsMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingRevenueReconcilingItemAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$17falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_SegmentReportingRevenueReconcilingItemAxis} : Reportable segments
1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
$D2009_ReportableSegmentsMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseReportable segmentsus-gaap_SegmentReportingRevenueReconcilingItemAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_ReportableSegmentsMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingRevenueReconcilingItemAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$18falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_SegmentReportingRevenueReconcilingItemAxis} : Reportable segments
1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
USD ($)
$D2008_ReportableSegmentsMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230duration2008-01-01T00:00:002008-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseReportable segmentsus-gaap_SegmentReportingRevenueReconcilingItemAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_ReportableSegmentsMemberus-gaap_SegmentReportingRevenueReconcilingItemAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse49true0us-gaap_SegmentReportingReconcilingItemForOperatingProfitLossFromSegmentToConsolidatedLineItemsus-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.falsefalse50false0us-gaap_SegmentReportingInformationOperatingIncomeLossus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse41890000004189falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse15350000001535falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse42020000004202falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of income or loss for the reportable segment before unusual Items, equity method income or loss, income taxes, and extraordinary items.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 131
-Paragraph 27
falsefalse347Segment information (Details 3) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue
