2.2.0.25falsefalse4053 - Disclosure - Income taxes (Details 4)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$4true0us-gaap_ComponentsOfDeferredTaxAssetsAbstractus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalse5false0us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsPensionsus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse10650000001065falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse12070000001207falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse18880000001888falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe tax effect as of the balance sheet date of the amount of the estimated future tax deductions arising from pension costs, which can only be deducted for tax purposes when actual costs are incurred, and which can only be realized if sufficient tax-basis income is generated in future periods to enable the deduction to be taken.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 43
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 11
-Subparagraph b
falsefalse6false0us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsPostretirementBenefitsus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse15010000001501falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse13620000001362falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse15300000001530falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe tax effect as of the balance sheet date of the amount of estimated future tax deductions arising from postretirement benefits, which can only be deducted for tax purposes when actual costs are incurred, and which can only be realized if sufficient tax-basis income is generated in future periods to enable the deduction to be taken.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 43
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 11
-Subparagraph b
falsefalse7false0us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxCreditCarryforwardsus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse11170000001117falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse11850000001185falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse712000000712falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe tax effect as of the balance sheet date of the amount of future tax deductions arising from all unused tax credit carryforwards which have been reduced by a valuation allowance.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 43
falsefalse8false0us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsWarrantyReservesus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse253000000253falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse243000000243falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse312000000312falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe tax effect as of the balance sheet date of the amount of the estimated future tax deductions arising from estimated warranty reserves, which can only be deducted for tax purposes when warranty losses are actually incurred, and which can only be realized if sufficient tax-basis income is generated in future periods to enable the deduction to be taken.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 43
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 11
-Subparagraph b
falsefalse9false0us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsInventoryus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse269000000269falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse229000000229falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse275000000275falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe tax effect as of the balance sheet date of the amount of the estimated future tax deductions attributable to inventory related items which can only be realized if sufficient taxable income is generated in future periods to enable the deduction to be taken.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 43
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 11
-Subparagraph b
falsefalse10false0us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsShareBasedCompensationCostus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse215000000215falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse182000000182falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse148000000148falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe tax effect as of the balance sheet date of the amount of the estimated future tax deductions arising from share-based compensation costs, which can only be deducted for tax purposes when actual costs are incurred, and which can only be realized if sufficient tax-basis income is generated in future periods to enable the deduction to be taken.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 43
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 11
-Subparagraph b
falsefalse11false0cat_DeferredTaxAssetsPostSaleDiscountscatfalsedebitinstantThe tax effect, as of the balance sheet date, of the amount of the estimated future tax deductions arising from post sale...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse142000000142falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse112000000112falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse140000000140falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe tax effect, as of the balance sheet date, of the amount of the estimated future tax deductions arising from post sale discounts, which can only be deducted for tax purposes when actual discount is granted, and which can only be realized if sufficient tax-basis income is generated in future periods to enable the deductions to be taken.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse12false0us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseReservesAndAccrualsAllowanceForDoubtfulAccountsus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse111000000111falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse102000000102falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse134000000134falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe tax effect as of the balance sheet date of the amount of the estimated future tax deductions arising from estimated losses reflected in the allowance for doubtful accounts, which can only be deducted for tax purposes when actual bad debts are known, and which can only be realized if sufficient tax-basis income is generated in future periods to enable the deduction to be taken.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 43
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 11
-Subparagraph b
falsefalse13false0us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsTaxDeferredExpenseCompensationAndBenefitsEmployeeCompensationus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse106000000106falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse9500000095falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse7800000078falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe tax effect as of the balance sheet date of the amount of the estimated future tax deductions arising from employee compensation costs, which can only be deducted for tax purposes when actual costs are incurred, and which can only be realized if sufficient tax-basis income is generated in future periods to enable the deduction to be taken.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 43
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 11
-Subparagraph b
falsefalse14false0us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsOtherus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse394000000394falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse396000000396falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse427000000427falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe tax effect as of the balance sheet date of the amount of estimated future tax deductions arising from other temporary differences not otherwise specified in the taxonomy.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 43
falsefalse15false0us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsGrossus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse51730000005173falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse51130000005113falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse56440000005644falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe sum of the tax effects as of the balance sheet date of the amounts of all future tax deductions arising from temporary differences between tax basis and generally accepted accounting principles basis recognition of assets, liabilities, revenues and expenses, which can only be deducted for tax purposes when permitted under enacted tax laws ( before the valuation allowance, if any, to reduce such sum amount to net realizable value). Includes any tax benefit realized in deferred tax assets for significant impacts of tax planning strategies.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 43, 289
truefalse16true0us-gaap_ComponentsOfDeferredTaxLiabilitiesAbstractus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalse17false0cat_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesCapitalAndIntangibleAssetscatfalsecreditinstantThe amount, as of the balance sheet date, of the estimated future tax effects attributable to the difference between the tax...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1truefalsefalse-1423000000-1423falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-1185000000-1185falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-1233000000-1233falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount, as of the balance sheet date, of the estimated future tax effects attributable to the difference between the tax basis of capital assets and intangible assets, and the basis of capital assets and intangible assets computed in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. The difference in basis, attributable to different capitalization of costs, depreciation, or amortization methodologies, will increase future taxable income when such basis difference is realized.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse18false0us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesUndistributedForeignEarningsus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1truefalsefalse-169000000-169falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-96000000-96falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-133000000-133falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount as of the balance sheet date of the estimated future tax effects attributable to undistributed earnings of subsidiaries and other recognized entities in countries outside the country of domicile which will increase future taxable income when such earnings are distributed into the country of domicile.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 43
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 11
-Subparagraph a
falsefalse19false0us-gaap_DeferredTaxLiabilitiesus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegatedtotal1truefalsefalse-1592000000-1592falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-1281000000-1281falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-1366000000-1366falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe cumulative amount of all deferred tax liabilities, which result from applying the applicable tax rate to net taxable temporary differences pertaining to each jurisdiction to which the entity is obligated to pay income tax. A taxable temporary difference is a difference between the tax basis and the carrying amount of an asset or liability in the financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles that will result in taxable amounts in one or more future periods.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 42, 43
truefalse20false0us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsValuationAllowanceus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1truefalsefalse-412000000-412falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse-475000000-475falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-334000000-334falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe sum of the portions of deferred tax assets as of the balance sheet date for which, based on the weight of available evidence, it is more likely than not will not be realized through future reductions of tax-based income.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 17
-Subparagraph e
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 43-49
falsefalse21false0us-gaap_DeferredTaxAssetsLiabilitiesNetus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse31690000003169falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse33570000003357falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse39440000003944falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryFor entities that net deferred tax assets and tax liabilities, represents the unclassified net amount of deferred tax assets and liabilities as of the balance sheet date, which result from applying the applicable enacted tax rate to net temporary differences and carryforwards pertaining to assets or liabilities. A temporary difference is a difference between the tax basis of an asset or liability and its carrying amount in the financial statements prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles that will reverse in ensuing periods.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 109
-Paragraph 42, 43
truefalse318Income taxes (Details 4) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue
