2.2.0.25truefalse4060 - Disclosure - Cat Financial Financing Activities (Details)truefalseIn Millionsfalse1falsefalseUSDtruefalse{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Cat Financial
12/31/2010
USD ($)
$I2010_CatFinancialMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseCat Financialdei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_CatFinancialMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDtruefalse{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Cat Financial
12/31/2009
USD ($)
$I2009_CatFinancialMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseCat Financialdei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_CatFinancialMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$3falsefalseUSDtruefalse{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Cat Financial
12/31/2008
USD ($)
$I2008_CatFinancialMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2008-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseCat Financialdei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_CatFinancialMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2true0us-gaap_AccountsNotesAndLoansReceivableLineItemsus-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.falsefalse3false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesCurrentAndNoncurrentcatfalsedebitinstantCarrying amount of wholesale inventory receivables, both current and noncurrent portions, that result from the financing of...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse13610000001361falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse937000000937falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse15550000001555falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying amount of wholesale inventory receivables, both current and noncurrent portions, that result from the financing of dealer inventory.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse4false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInNextTwelveMonthscatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due within the next twelve months, following the date...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse10420000001042falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis 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.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse5false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInYearTwocatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due in year two, following the date of the latest...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse141000000141falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis 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.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse6false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInYearThreecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due in year three, following the date of the latest...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse7800000078falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis 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.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse7false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInYearFourcatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due in year four, following the date of the latest...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse2000000020falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis 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.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse8false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInYearFivecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due in year five, following the date of the latest...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse50000005falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis 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.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse9false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueAfterYearFivecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due after year five, following the date of the latest...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse40000004falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis 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.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse10false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesAggregateMaturitiescatfalsedebitinstantRepresents the aggregate amounts due on wholesale inventory receivables.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse12900000001290falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents the aggregate amounts due on wholesale inventory receivables.No authoritative reference available.truefalse11false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesGuaranteedResidualValuecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the guaranteed residual value of wholesale inventory receivables.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse111000000111falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the guaranteed residual value of wholesale inventory receivables.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse12false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesUnguaranteedResidualValuecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the unguaranteed residual value of wholesale inventory receivables.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse10000001falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the unguaranteed residual value of wholesale inventory receivables.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse13false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesUnearnedIncomecatfalsecreditinstantThis element represents the unearned income related to wholesale inventory receivables.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1truefalsefalse-41000000-41falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00 falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00 falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the unearned income related to wholesale inventory receivables.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse14false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesCurrentAndNoncurrentcatfalsedebitinstantCarrying amount of wholesale inventory receivables, both current and noncurrent portions, that result from the financing of...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse13610000001361falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse937000000937falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse15550000001555falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying amount of wholesale inventory receivables, both current and noncurrent portions, that result from the financing of dealer inventory.No authoritative reference available.truefalse15false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.cat.com/role/disclosurecatfinancialfinancingactivitiesdetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Cat Financial
{cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesAxis} : Wholesale Installment Contracts
12/31/2010
USD ($)
$I2010_WholesaleInstallmentContractsMember_CatFinancialMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseCat Financialdei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_CatFinancialMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseWholesale Installment Contractscat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_WholesaleInstallmentContractsMembercat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse16true0us-gaap_AccountsNotesAndLoansReceivableLineItemsus-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.falsefalse17false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesCurrentAndNoncurrentcatfalsedebitinstantCarrying amount of wholesale inventory receivables, both current and noncurrent portions, that result from the financing of...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse125000000125falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying amount of wholesale inventory receivables, both current and noncurrent portions, that result from the financing of dealer inventory.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse18false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInNextTwelveMonthscatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due within the next twelve months, following the date...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse103000000103falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis 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.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse19false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInYearTwocatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due in year two, following the date of the latest...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse1600000016falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis 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.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse20false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInYearThreecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due in year three, following the date of the latest...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse1100000011falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis 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.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse21false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInYearFourcatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due in year four, following the date of the latest...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse10000001falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis 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.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse22false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesAggregateMaturitiescatfalsedebitinstantRepresents the aggregate amounts due on wholesale inventory receivables.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse131000000131falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents the aggregate amounts due on wholesale inventory receivables.No authoritative reference available.truefalse23false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesUnearnedIncomecatfalsecreditinstantThis element represents the unearned income related to wholesale inventory receivables.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1truefalsefalse-6000000-6falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the unearned income related to wholesale inventory receivables.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse24false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesCurrentAndNoncurrentcatfalsedebitinstantCarrying amount of wholesale inventory receivables, both current and noncurrent portions, that result from the financing of...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse125000000125falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying amount of wholesale inventory receivables, both current and noncurrent portions, that result from the financing of dealer inventory.No authoritative reference available.truefalse25false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.cat.com/role/disclosurecatfinancialfinancingactivitiesdetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalseUSDtruefalse{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Cat Financial
{cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesAxis} : Wholesale Finance Leases
12/31/2010
USD ($)
$I2010_WholesaleFinanceLeasesMember_CatFinancialMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseCat Financialdei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_CatFinancialMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseWholesale Finance Leasescat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_WholesaleFinanceLeasesMembercat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse26true0us-gaap_AccountsNotesAndLoansReceivableLineItemsus-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.falsefalse27false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesCurrentAndNoncurrentcatfalsedebitinstantCarrying amount of wholesale inventory receivables, both current and noncurrent portions, that result from the financing of...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse299000000299falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying amount of wholesale inventory receivables, both current and noncurrent portions, that result from the financing of dealer inventory.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse28false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInNextTwelveMonthscatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due within the next twelve months, following the date...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse115000000115falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis 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.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse29false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInYearTwocatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due in year two, following the date of the latest...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse4800000048falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis 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.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse30false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInYearThreecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due in year three, following the date of the latest...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse2700000027falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis 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.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse31false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInYearFourcatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due in year four, following the date of the latest...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse1500000015falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis 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.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse32false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInYearFivecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due in year five, following the date of the latest...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse50000005falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis 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.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse33false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueAfterYearFivecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due after year five, following the date of the latest...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse40000004falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis 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.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse34false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesAggregateMaturitiescatfalsedebitinstantRepresents the aggregate amounts due on wholesale inventory receivables.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse214000000214falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents the aggregate amounts due on wholesale inventory receivables.No authoritative reference available.truefalse35false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesGuaranteedResidualValuecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the guaranteed residual value of wholesale inventory receivables.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse111000000111falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the guaranteed residual value of wholesale inventory receivables.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse36false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesUnguaranteedResidualValuecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the unguaranteed residual value of wholesale inventory receivables.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse10000001falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the unguaranteed residual value of wholesale inventory receivables.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse37false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesUnearnedIncomecatfalsecreditinstantThis element represents the unearned income related to wholesale inventory receivables.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1truefalsefalse-27000000-27falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the unearned income related to wholesale inventory receivables.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse38false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesCurrentAndNoncurrentcatfalsedebitinstantCarrying amount of wholesale inventory receivables, both current and noncurrent portions, that result from the financing of...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse299000000299falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying amount of wholesale inventory receivables, both current and noncurrent portions, that result from the financing of dealer inventory.No authoritative reference available.truefalse39false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.cat.com/role/disclosurecatfinancialfinancingactivitiesdetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse6falsefalseUSDtruefalse{dei_LegalEntityAxis} : Cat Financial
{cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesAxis} : Wholesale Notes
12/31/2010
USD ($)
$I2010_WholesaleNotesMember_CatFinancialMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseCat Financialdei_LegalEntityAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_CatFinancialMemberdei_LegalEntityAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseWholesale Notescat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_WholesaleNotesMembercat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse40true0us-gaap_AccountsNotesAndLoansReceivableLineItemsus-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.falsefalse41false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesCurrentAndNoncurrentcatfalsedebitinstantCarrying amount of wholesale inventory receivables, both current and noncurrent portions, that result from the financing of...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse937000000937falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying amount of wholesale inventory receivables, both current and noncurrent portions, that result from the financing of dealer inventory.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse42false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInNextTwelveMonthscatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due within the next twelve months, following the date...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse824000000824falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis 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.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse43false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInYearTwocatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due in year two, following the date of the latest...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse7700000077falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis 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.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse44false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInYearThreecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due in year three, following the date of the latest...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse4000000040falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis 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.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse45false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesDueInYearFourcatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of wholesale inventory receivables due in year four, following the date of the latest...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse40000004falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis 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.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse46false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesAggregateMaturitiescatfalsedebitinstantRepresents the aggregate amounts due on wholesale inventory receivables.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse945000000945falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents the aggregate amounts due on wholesale inventory receivables.No authoritative reference available.truefalse47false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesUnearnedIncomecatfalsecreditinstantThis element represents the unearned income related to wholesale inventory receivables.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1truefalsefalse-8000000-8falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the unearned income related to wholesale inventory receivables.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse48false0cat_WholesaleInventoryReceivablesCurrentAndNoncurrentcatfalsedebitinstantCarrying amount of wholesale inventory receivables, both current and noncurrent portions, that result from the financing of...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse937000000937falsetruefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying amount of wholesale inventory receivables, both current and noncurrent portions, that result from the financing of dealer inventory.No authoritative reference available.truefalse347Cat Financial Financing Activities (Details) (Cat Financial, USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue
