2.2.0.25falsefalse4240 - Disclosure - Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest - Caterpillar Japan Ltd. (Details)truefalseIn Millions, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$D2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDPerShareDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$D2009http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDPerShareDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$3falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$D2008http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230duration2008-01-01T00:00:002008-12-31T00:00:00USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDPerShareDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$4falsefalsefalsefalse8/2/2008
I2008Q3_M0802http://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2008-08-02T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli02true0cat_RedeemableNoncontrollingInterestDisclosureAbstractcatfalsenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalse3false0us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParentus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4truetruefalse0.670.67falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureThe consolidating entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse4false0us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwnersus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4truetruefalse0.330.33falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureThe equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders in consolidated entity.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse5false0cat_TemporaryEquityIncreaseDecreaseInRetainedEarningsAdjustmentToCarryingValueOfRedeemableNoncontrollingInterestcatfalsecreditdurationThe increase or decrease in retained earnings due to adjustments made in the carrying value of redeemable noncontrolling...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse2700000027falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse8100000081falsetruefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe increase or decrease in retained earnings due to adjustments made in the carrying value of redeemable noncontrolling interest during the period as a result of a decrease or increase in the estimated redemption value.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse6false0cat_TemporaryEquityIncreaseDecreaseInCarryingValueDueToComprehensiveGainLossOfSubsidiarycatfalsecreditdurationThe increase or decrease in the carrying value of redeemable noncontrolling interest due to the subsidiary's comprehensive...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse5500000055falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-53000000-53falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-2000000-2falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe increase or decrease in the carrying value of redeemable noncontrolling interest due to the subsidiary's comprehensive gain or loss during the period.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse7false0cat_TemporaryEquityIncreaseDecreaseInRetainedEarningsAdjustmentToDecreaseIncreaseCarryingValueOfRedeemableNoncontrollingInterestToRedemptionValuecatfalsecreditdurationThe increase or decrease in retained earnings due to adjustment to increase or decrease the carrying value of redeemable...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1truefalsefalse5500000055falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-53000000-53falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-2000000-2falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe increase or decrease in retained earnings due to adjustment to increase or decrease the carrying value of redeemable noncontrolling interest to the redemption value.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse8false0us-gaap_TemporaryEquityRedemptionValueus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse461000000461falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse477000000477falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse524000000524falsetruefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe aggregate amount to be paid by the entity upon redemption of the security that is classified as temporary equity. Temporary equity is a security with redemption features that are outside the control of the issuer, is not classified as an asset or liability in conformity with GAAP, and is not mandatorily redeemable. Includes any type of security that is redeemable at a fixed or determinable price or on a fixed or determinable date or dates, is redeemable at the option of the holder, or has conditions for redemption which are not solely within the control of the issuer. If convertible, the issuer does not control the actions or events necessary to issue the maximum number of shares that could be required to be delivered under the conversion option if the holder exercises the option to convert the stock to another class of equity. If the security is a warrant or a rights issue, the warrant or rights issue is considered to be temporary equity if the issuer cannot demonstrate that it would be able to deliver upon the exercise of the option by the holder in all cases. Includes stock with put option held by ESOP and stock redeemable by holder only in the event of a change in control of the issuer.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph b
-Article 5
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 00-19
-Paragraph 12
falsefalse47Redeemable Noncontrolling Interest - Caterpillar Japan Ltd. (Details) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue
