2.2.0.25truefalse4125 - Disclosure - Postemployment benefit plans (Details 6)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$2true0us-gaap_DefinedContributionPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansDisclosureAbstractus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalse3false0us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognizedus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse270000000270falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse235000000235falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse141000000141falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of the cost recognized during the period for defined contribution plans.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 11
falsefalse4false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.cat.com/role/disclosurepostemploymentbenefitplansdetails61falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{cat_DefinedContributionPlansDisclosuresContributionPlansAxis} : U.S. Plans
1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
$D2010_UnitedStatesDefinedContrbutionPlansMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseU.S. Planscat_DefinedContributionPlansDisclosuresContributionPlansAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_UnitedStatesDefinedContrbutionPlansMembercat_DefinedContributionPlansDisclosuresContributionPlansAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0PureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$5falsefalseUSDtruefalse{cat_DefinedContributionPlansDisclosuresContributionPlansAxis} : U.S. Plans
1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
$D2009_UnitedStatesDefinedContrbutionPlansMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseU.S. Planscat_DefinedContributionPlansDisclosuresContributionPlansAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_UnitedStatesDefinedContrbutionPlansMembercat_DefinedContributionPlansDisclosuresContributionPlansAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170SharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$6falsefalseUSDtruefalse{cat_DefinedContributionPlansDisclosuresContributionPlansAxis} : U.S. Plans
1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
USD ($)
$D2008_UnitedStatesDefinedContrbutionPlansMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230duration2008-01-01T00:00:002008-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseU.S. Planscat_DefinedContributionPlansDisclosuresContributionPlansAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_UnitedStatesDefinedContrbutionPlansMembercat_DefinedContributionPlansDisclosuresContributionPlansAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse5true0us-gaap_DefinedContributionPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansDisclosureAbstractus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalse6false0cat_PercentageOfEmployeesContributionContributedByEmployercatfalsenainstantThis element represents the percentage that the employer generally matches on employee contributions to U.S. defined...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truetruefalse1.001.00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureThis element represents the percentage that the employer generally matches on employee contributions to U.S. defined contribution plans.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse7false0cat_PercentageOfCompensationContributedToDefinedContributionPlansByEmployeescatfalsenainstantThis element represents the percentage of compensation contributed by the U.S. employees to defined contribution plans that...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truetruefalse0.060.06falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureThis element represents the percentage of compensation contributed by the U.S. employees to defined contribution plans that are generally eligible for employer matching contributions.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse8false0cat_PercentageOfEmployeesContributionContributedByEmployerAccruingBenefitUnderDefinedBenefitPensionPlancatfalsenainstantThis element represents the percentage that the employer generally matches of employee contributions to U.S. defined...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truetruefalse0.500.50falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureThis element represents the percentage that the employer generally matches of employee contributions to U.S. defined contribution plans for employees accruing benefits under a defined benefit pension plan.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse9false0cat_PercentageOfCompensationContributedToDefinedContributionPlansByEmployeesAccruingBenefitUnderDefinedBenefitPensionPlancatfalsenainstantThis element represents the percentage of compensation contributed by the U.S. employees accruing benefits under defined...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truetruefalse0.060.06falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureThis element represents the percentage of compensation contributed by the U.S. employees accruing benefits under defined benefit pension plan to defined contribution plans that are generally eligible for employer matching contributions for employees.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse10false0cat_EmployerMatchingContributionToDefinedContributionPlansValueOfStockcatfalsecreditdurationRepresents the value of the entity's treasury stock given as a contribution to the defined contribution plans.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse9400000094falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse6800000068falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRepresents the value of the entity's treasury stock given as a contribution to the defined contribution plans.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse11false0cat_EmployerMatchingContributionToDefinedContributionPlansSharesOfStockcatfalsenadurationRepresents the number of shares of the entity's treasury stock given as a matching contribution to the defined contribution...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse15000001.5falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse14000001.4falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseSharesxbrli:sharesItemTypesharesRepresents the number of shares of the entity's treasury stock given as a matching contribution to the defined contribution plans.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse12false0us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognizedus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse231000000231falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse206000000206falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse107000000107falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of the cost recognized during the period for defined contribution plans.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 11
falsefalse13false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.cat.com/role/disclosurepostemploymentbenefitplansdetails61falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse7falsefalseUSDtruefalse{cat_DefinedContributionPlansDisclosuresContributionPlansAxis} : Non-U.S. Plans
1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
$D2010_ForeignDefinedContrbutionPlansMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseNon-U.S. Planscat_DefinedContributionPlansDisclosuresContributionPlansAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_ForeignDefinedContrbutionPlansMembercat_DefinedContributionPlansDisclosuresContributionPlansAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$8falsefalseUSDtruefalse{cat_DefinedContributionPlansDisclosuresContributionPlansAxis} : Non-U.S. Plans
1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
$D2009_ForeignDefinedContrbutionPlansMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseNon-U.S. Planscat_DefinedContributionPlansDisclosuresContributionPlansAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_ForeignDefinedContrbutionPlansMembercat_DefinedContributionPlansDisclosuresContributionPlansAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$9falsefalseUSDtruefalse{cat_DefinedContributionPlansDisclosuresContributionPlansAxis} : Non-U.S. Plans
1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
USD ($)
$D2008_ForeignDefinedContrbutionPlansMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230duration2008-01-01T00:00:002008-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseNon-U.S. Planscat_DefinedContributionPlansDisclosuresContributionPlansAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldicat_ForeignDefinedContrbutionPlansMembercat_DefinedContributionPlansDisclosuresContributionPlansAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse14true0us-gaap_DefinedContributionPensionAndOtherPostretirementPlansDisclosureAbstractus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalse15false0us-gaap_DefinedContributionPlanCostRecognizedus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse3900000039falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse2900000029falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse3400000034falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of the cost recognized during the period for defined contribution plans.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 11
falsefalse314Postemployment benefit plans (Details 6) (USD $)MillionsHundredThousandsUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue
