2.2.0.25falsefalse4070 - Disclosure - Inventories (Details)truefalseIn Millions, except Per Share datafalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 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$3falsefalseUSDfalsefalse12/31/2008
USD ($)
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$2true0cat_InventoriesDisclosureAbstractcatfalsenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalse3false0us-gaap_InventoryRawMaterialsNetOfReservesus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse27660000002766falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse19790000001979falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse26780000002678falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying amount, net of valuation reserves and adjustments, as of the balance sheet date of unprocessed items to be consumed in the manufacturing or production process.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 6
-Article 5
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 5
-Section BB
falsefalse4false0us-gaap_InventoryWorkInProcessNetOfReservesus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse14830000001483falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse656000000656falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse15080000001508falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying amount, net of reserves and adjustments, as of the balance sheet date of merchandise or goods which are partially completed. This inventory is generally comprised of raw materials, labor and factory overhead costs, which require further materials, labor and overhead to be converted into finished goods, and which generally require the use of estimates to determine percentage complete and pricing.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 6
-Article 5
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 5
-Section BB
falsefalse5false0us-gaap_InventoryFinishedGoodsNetOfReservesus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse50980000005098falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse34650000003465falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse43160000004316falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying amount, net of valuation reserves and adjustments, as of the balance sheet date of merchandise or goods held by the company that are readily available for sale.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 6
-Article 5
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 5
-Section BB
falsefalse6false0us-gaap_InventorySuppliesNetOfReservesus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse240000000240falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse260000000260falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse279000000279falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying amount, net of valuation reserves and adjustments, as of the balance sheet date of products used directly or indirectly in the manufacturing or production process, which may or may not become part of the final product. May also include items used in the storage, presentation or transportation of physical goods.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 6
-Article 5
falsefalse7false0us-gaap_InventoryNetus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetotallabel1truefalsefalse95870000009587falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse63600000006360falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse87810000008781falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryCarrying amount (lower of cost or market) as of the balance sheet date of inventories less all valuation and other allowances. Excludes noncurrent inventory balances (expected to remain on hand past one year or one operating cycle, if longer).No authoritative reference available.truefalse8false0us-gaap_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentAmountus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse927000000927falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe minimum amount the entity agreed to spend under the long-term purchase commitment.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse9false0cat_EffectOfLIFOInventoryLiquidationOnCostOfGoodsSoldcatfalsecreditdurationThe effect of liquidating LIFO (last in first out) inventory layers on cost of goods sold.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse300000000300falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe effect of liquidating LIFO (last in first out) inventory layers on cost of goods sold.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse10false0us-gaap_EffectOfLIFOInventoryLiquidationOnIncomeus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse240000000240falsetruefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe effect of liquidating LIFO (last in first out) inventory layers on income.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 11
-Section F
falsefalse11false0cat_EffectOfLIFOInventoryLiquidationOnEarningsPerSharecatfalsenadurationThe effect of liquidating LIFO (last in first out) inventory layers on earnings per share.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse0.390.39falsetruefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseEPSus-types:perShareItemTypedecimalThe effect of liquidating LIFO (last in first out) inventory layers on earnings per share.No authoritative reference available.falsetrue310Inventories (Details) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownNoRoundingUnKnownfalsetrue
