2.2.0.25truefalse4126 - Disclosure - Postemployment benefit plans (Details 7)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$2true0us-gaap_PensionAndOtherPostretirementDefinedBenefitPlansLiabilitiesNoncurrentAbstractus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalse3false0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPensionPlanLiabilitiesNoncurrentus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse32190000003219falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse37670000003767falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse57760000005776falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis represents the noncurrent liability recognized in the balance sheet that is associated with the defined benefit pension plans. (The current liability will be separate, but it will normally be small, if there is even any at all.)Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph c
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 6
falsefalse4false0us-gaap_OtherPostretirementDefinedBenefitPlanLiabilitiesNoncurrentus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse40170000004017falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse33610000003361falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse39460000003946falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis represents the noncurrent liability recognized in the balance sheet that is associated with other postretirement defined benefit plans (excluding pension plans). (The current liability will be separate, but it will normally be small, if there is even any at all.)Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph c
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 6
falsefalse5false0us-gaap_PostemploymentBenefitsLiabilityNoncurrentus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse6900000069falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse6300000063falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse7300000073falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryFor a classified balance sheet, the carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of the portion of the obligations recognized for the various benefits provided to former or inactive employees, their beneficiaries, and covered dependents after employment but before retirement that is payable after one year (or beyond the operating cycle if longer).Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 5
-Paragraph 9
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 112
-Paragraph 4, 5, 6
falsefalse6false0cat_DefinedContributionPlanLiabilitiesNoncurrentcatfalsenainstantThis represents the noncurrent liability recognized in the balance sheet that is associated with defined contribution plans.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse279000000279falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse229000000229falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse180000000180falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis represents the noncurrent liability recognized in the balance sheet that is associated with defined contribution plans.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse7false0us-gaap_PensionAndOtherPostretirementAndPostemploymentBenefitPlansLiabilitiesNoncurrentus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse75840000007584falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse74200000007420falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse99750000009975falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis represents the noncurrent liability recognized in the balance sheet that is associated with the defined benefit pension plans and other postretirement and postemployment benefit plans. (The current liability will be separate, but it will normally be small, if there is even any at all.)Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph c
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 6
falsefalse8false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.cat.com/role/disclosurepostemploymentbenefitplansdetails71falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{cat_PostemploymentBenefitPlanAxis} : U.S. Pension Benefits
12/31/2010
USD ($)
$I2010_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember_PEhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseU.S. Pension Benefitscat_PostemploymentBenefitPlanAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMembercat_PostemploymentBenefitPlanAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$5falsefalseUSDtruefalse{cat_PostemploymentBenefitPlanAxis} : U.S. Pension Benefits
12/31/2009
USD ($)
$I2009_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember_PEhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseU.S. Pension Benefitscat_PostemploymentBenefitPlanAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMembercat_PostemploymentBenefitPlanAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$6falsefalseUSDtruefalse{cat_PostemploymentBenefitPlanAxis} : U.S. Pension Benefits
12/31/2008
USD ($)
$I2008_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMember_PEhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2008-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseU.S. Pension Benefitscat_PostemploymentBenefitPlanAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMembercat_PostemploymentBenefitPlanAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse9true0us-gaap_PensionAndOtherPostretirementDefinedBenefitPlansLiabilitiesNoncurrentAbstractus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalse10false0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPensionPlanLiabilitiesNoncurrentus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse22460000002246falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse30180000003018falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse47340000004734falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis represents the noncurrent liability recognized in the balance sheet that is associated with the defined benefit pension plans. (The current liability will be separate, but it will normally be small, if there is even any at all.)Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph c
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 6
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12/31/2010
USD ($)
$I2010_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember_PEhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseNon-U.S. Pension Benefitscat_PostemploymentBenefitPlanAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMembercat_PostemploymentBenefitPlanAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$8falsefalseUSDtruefalse{cat_PostemploymentBenefitPlanAxis} : Non-U.S. Pension Benefits
12/31/2009
USD ($)
$I2009_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember_PEhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseNon-U.S. Pension Benefitscat_PostemploymentBenefitPlanAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMembercat_PostemploymentBenefitPlanAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$9falsefalseUSDtruefalse{cat_PostemploymentBenefitPlanAxis} : Non-U.S. Pension Benefits
12/31/2008
USD ($)
$I2008_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMember_PEhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0000018230instant2008-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseNon-U.S. Pension Benefitscat_PostemploymentBenefitPlanAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMembercat_PostemploymentBenefitPlanAxisexplicitMemberUSDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse12true0us-gaap_PensionAndOtherPostretirementDefinedBenefitPlansLiabilitiesNoncurrentAbstractus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringNo definition available.falsefalse13false0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPensionPlanLiabilitiesNoncurrentus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse973000000973falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse749000000749falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse10420000001042falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis represents the noncurrent liability recognized in the balance sheet that is associated with the defined benefit pension plans. (The current liability will be separate, but it will normally be small, if there is even any at all.)Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph c
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 6
falsefalse312Postemployment benefit plans (Details 7) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue
