2.2.0.25truefalse4061 - Disclosure - Cat Financial Financing Activities (Details 2)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$2true0cat_ContractualMaturitiesOfOutstandingFinanceReceivablesAbstractcatfalsenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalse3false0cat_FinanceReceivablesDueInNextTwelveMonthscatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due within the next twelve months following the date of the latest...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse87280000008728falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due within the next twelve months following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse4false0cat_FinanceReceivablesDueInYearTwocatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year two following the date of the latest balance sheet...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse48060000004806falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year two following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse5false0cat_FinanceReceivablesDueInYearThreecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year three following the date of the latest balance sheet...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse31240000003124falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year three following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse6false0cat_FinanceReceivablesDueInYearFourcatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year four following the date of the latest balance sheet...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse18180000001818falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year four following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse7false0cat_FinanceReceivablesDueInYearFivecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year five following the date of the latest balance sheet...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse890000000890falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year five following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse8false0cat_FinanceReceivablesDueAfterYearFivecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due after year five following the date of the latest balance sheet...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse913000000913falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due after year five following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse9false0cat_FinanceReceivablesAggregateAmountsReceivablecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the aggregate amount of finance receivables due as of the latest balance sheet presented in the...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse2027900000020279falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the aggregate amount of finance receivables due as of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.No authoritative reference available.truefalse10false0cat_FinanceReceivablesGuaranteedResidualValuecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the guaranteed residual value of finance receivables.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse497000000497falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the guaranteed residual value of finance receivables.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse11false0cat_FinanceReceivablesUnguaranteedResidualValuecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the unguaranteed residual value of finance receivables.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse503000000503falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the unguaranteed residual value of finance receivables.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse12false0cat_FinanceReceivablesUnearnedIncomecatfalsecreditinstantThis element represents the unearned income on finance receivables.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1truefalsefalse-1356000000-1356falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the unearned income on finance receivables.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse13false0cat_FinanceReceiveablesNetOfUnearnedIncomecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the carrying value of finance receivables, net of unearned income.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse1992300000019923falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the carrying value of finance receivables, net of unearned income.No authoritative reference available.truefalse14false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.cat.com/role/disclosurecatfinancialfinancingactivitiesdetails21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalseUSDtruefalse{cat_FinanceReceivablesAxis} : Retail Installment Contracts
12/31/2010
USD ($)
$I2010_RetailInstallmentContractsMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseRetail Installment Contractscat_FinanceReceivablesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_RetailInstallmentContractsMembercat_FinanceReceivablesAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse15true0cat_ContractualMaturitiesOfOutstandingFinanceReceivablesAbstractcatfalsenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalse16false0cat_FinanceReceivablesDueInNextTwelveMonthscatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due within the next twelve months following the date of the latest...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse21260000002126falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due within the next twelve months following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse17false0cat_FinanceReceivablesDueInYearTwocatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year two following the date of the latest balance sheet...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse13840000001384falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year two following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse18false0cat_FinanceReceivablesDueInYearThreecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year three following the date of the latest balance sheet...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse841000000841falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year three following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse19false0cat_FinanceReceivablesDueInYearFourcatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year four following the date of the latest balance sheet...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse445000000445falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year four following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse20false0cat_FinanceReceivablesDueInYearFivecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year five following the date of the latest balance sheet...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse146000000146falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year five following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse21false0cat_FinanceReceivablesDueAfterYearFivecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due after year five following the date of the latest balance sheet...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse3000000030falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due after year five following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse22false0cat_FinanceReceivablesAggregateAmountsReceivablecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the aggregate amount of finance receivables due as of the latest balance sheet presented in the...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse49720000004972falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the aggregate amount of finance receivables due as of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.No authoritative reference available.truefalse23false0cat_FinanceReceivablesUnearnedIncomecatfalsecreditinstantThis element represents the unearned income on finance receivables.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1truefalsefalse-430000000-430falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the unearned income on finance receivables.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse24false0cat_FinanceReceiveablesNetOfUnearnedIncomecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the carrying value of finance receivables, net of unearned income.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse45420000004542falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the carrying value of finance receivables, net of unearned income.No authoritative reference available.truefalse25false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.cat.com/role/disclosurecatfinancialfinancingactivitiesdetails21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalseUSDtruefalse{cat_FinanceReceivablesAxis} : Retail Finance Leases
12/31/2010
USD ($)
$I2010_RetailFinanceLeasesMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseRetail Finance Leasescat_FinanceReceivablesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_RetailFinanceLeasesMembercat_FinanceReceivablesAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse26true0cat_ContractualMaturitiesOfOutstandingFinanceReceivablesAbstractcatfalsenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalse27false0cat_FinanceReceivablesDueInNextTwelveMonthscatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due within the next twelve months following the date of the latest...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse30530000003053falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due within the next twelve months following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse28false0cat_FinanceReceivablesDueInYearTwocatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year two following the date of the latest balance sheet...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse19680000001968falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year two following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse29false0cat_FinanceReceivablesDueInYearThreecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year three following the date of the latest balance sheet...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse10610000001061falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year three following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse30false0cat_FinanceReceivablesDueInYearFourcatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year four following the date of the latest balance sheet...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse462000000462falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year four following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse31false0cat_FinanceReceivablesDueInYearFivecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year five following the date of the latest balance sheet...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse173000000173falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year five following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse32false0cat_FinanceReceivablesDueAfterYearFivecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due after year five following the date of the latest balance sheet...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse149000000149falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due after year five following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse33false0cat_FinanceReceivablesAggregateAmountsReceivablecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the aggregate amount of finance receivables due as of the latest balance sheet presented in the...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse68660000006866falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the aggregate amount of finance receivables due as of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.No authoritative reference available.truefalse34false0cat_FinanceReceivablesGuaranteedResidualValuecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the guaranteed residual value of finance receivables.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse497000000497falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the guaranteed residual value of finance receivables.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse35false0cat_FinanceReceivablesUnguaranteedResidualValuecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the unguaranteed residual value of finance receivables.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse503000000503falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the unguaranteed residual value of finance receivables.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse36false0cat_FinanceReceivablesUnearnedIncomecatfalsecreditinstantThis element represents the unearned income on finance receivables.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1truefalsefalse-756000000-756falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the unearned income on finance receivables.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse37false0cat_FinanceReceiveablesNetOfUnearnedIncomecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the carrying value of finance receivables, net of unearned income.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse71100000007110falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the carrying value of finance receivables, net of unearned income.No authoritative reference available.truefalse38false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.cat.com/role/disclosurecatfinancialfinancingactivitiesdetails21falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{cat_FinanceReceivablesAxis} : Retail Notes
12/31/2010
USD ($)
$I2010_RetailNotesMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseRetail Notescat_FinanceReceivablesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_RetailNotesMembercat_FinanceReceivablesAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse39true0cat_ContractualMaturitiesOfOutstandingFinanceReceivablesAbstractcatfalsenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalse40false0cat_FinanceReceivablesDueInNextTwelveMonthscatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due within the next twelve months following the date of the latest...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse35490000003549falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due within the next twelve months following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse41false0cat_FinanceReceivablesDueInYearTwocatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year two following the date of the latest balance sheet...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse14540000001454falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year two following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse42false0cat_FinanceReceivablesDueInYearThreecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year three following the date of the latest balance sheet...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse12220000001222falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year three following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse43false0cat_FinanceReceivablesDueInYearFourcatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year four following the date of the latest balance sheet...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse911000000911falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year four following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse44false0cat_FinanceReceivablesDueInYearFivecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year five following the date of the latest balance sheet...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse571000000571falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due in year five following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse45false0cat_FinanceReceivablesDueAfterYearFivecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due after year five following the date of the latest balance sheet...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse734000000734falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the amount of finance receivables due after year five following the date of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse46false0cat_FinanceReceivablesAggregateAmountsReceivablecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the aggregate amount of finance receivables due as of the latest balance sheet presented in the...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse84410000008441falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the aggregate amount of finance receivables due as of the latest balance sheet presented in the financial statements.No authoritative reference available.truefalse47false0cat_FinanceReceivablesUnearnedIncomecatfalsecreditinstantThis element represents the unearned income on finance receivables.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruenegated1truefalsefalse-170000000-170falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the unearned income on finance receivables.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse48false0cat_FinanceReceiveablesNetOfUnearnedIncomecatfalsedebitinstantThis element represents the carrying value of finance receivables, net of unearned income.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse82710000008271falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the carrying value of finance receivables, net of unearned income.No authoritative reference available.truefalse147Cat Financial Financing Activities (Details 2) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue
