Plan Description (Details) - GMHP	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2025 USD ($) loan year h
EBP, Description of Plan [Line Items]
Catch -up contribution, minimum age	50 years
Contributions, percentage of eligible compensation	70.00%
Matching percentage	100.00%
Participant compensation matched, percentage	6.00%
Default investment election, target age \| year	65
Automatic deferral rate, annual increase	1.00%
Employer contributions	$ 1,486,000
Vesting percentage upon death	100.00%
Forfeited and available to pay administrative expenses	$ 52,000
Minimum borrowing amount	1,000
Maximum borrowing amount	$ 50,000
General loan, borrowing term	5 years
Prime rate percentage	1.00%
Maximum borrowing, to total account, percentage	50.00%
Number of outstanding loans allowed \| loan	1
EBP, Qualified Non-Elective Contributions
EBP, Description of Plan [Line Items]
Service period for automatic contribution	20 years
One-time employer non-elective contribution	$ 10,000
EBP, Steelworkers Union Local (SKME)
EBP, Description of Plan [Line Items]
Service period \| h	480
Automatic deferral rate, annual increase	1.00%
EBP, Denison
EBP, Description of Plan [Line Items]
Service period, days	1 day
Caterpillar Inc.
EBP, Description of Plan [Line Items]
Subsidiary ownership percentage by parent	100.00%
Less than one \| EBP, Denison
EBP, Description of Plan [Line Items]
Vesting percentage	0.00%
1 \| EBP, Denison
EBP, Description of Plan [Line Items]
Vesting percentage	20.00%
2 \| EBP, Denison
EBP, Description of Plan [Line Items]
Vesting percentage	40.00%
3 \| EBP, Denison
EBP, Description of Plan [Line Items]
Vesting percentage	60.00%
4 \| EBP, Denison
EBP, Description of Plan [Line Items]
Vesting percentage	80.00%
5 and more \| EBP, Denison
EBP, Description of Plan [Line Items]
Vesting percentage	100.00%
Minimum
EBP, Description of Plan [Line Items]
Automatic contribution rate	6.00%
Maximum
EBP, Description of Plan [Line Items]
Automatic contribution rate	15.00%

EBP, Catch -up Contribution, Minimum Age

No definition available.

Name:	cat_EBPCatchUpContributionMinimumAge
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

EBP, Employer Contribution, Automatic, Deferral Amount

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_EBPEmployerContributionAutomaticDeferralAmount
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Company contribution and/ or investment earning percentage vesting to the participant in Company Matching Contributions, Fixed Rate Contributions, Discretionary Profit-Sharing Contributions, Qualified Non-Elective Contributions, and Disability Contributions, upon completion of minimum service period or attainment of maximum vesting age

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_EBPEmployerContributionVestingPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

EBP, Employer Contribution Vesting Percentage Upon Death

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_EBPEmployerContributionVestingPercentageUponDeath
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

EBP, Note Receivable From Participant, General Loan, Maximum Borrowing Term

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_EBPNoteReceivableFromParticipantGeneralLoanMaximumBorrowingTerm
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

EBP, Note Receivable from Participant, Number Of Loans Allowed

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_EBPNoteReceivableFromParticipantNumberOfLoansAllowed
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Annual increase in percentage of eligible compensation contributed for participant automatically enrolled in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)) until the contribution reaches maximum threshold.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_EBPParticipantContributionAutomaticAnnualIncreaseDeferralRate
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

EBP, Participant Loan, Basis Spread On Variable Rate

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_EBPParticipantLoanBasisSpreadOnVariableRate
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

EBP, Requisite Service Period

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_EBPRequisiteServicePeriod
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

EBP, Requisite Service Period, Days

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_EBPRequisiteServicePeriodDays
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

EBP, Requisite Service Period For Automatic Contribution

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_EBPRequisiteServicePeriodForAutomaticContribution
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

EPB, Default Investment Election, Target Age

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_EPBDefaultInvestmentElectionTargetAge
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Subsidiary, Ownership Percentage, Parent

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cat_SubsidiaryOwnershipPercentageParent
Namespace Prefix:	cat_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of increase in net asset available for benefit from cash contribution from employer of participant in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/exampleRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 325
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 55
-Paragraph 17
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478873/962-325-55-17

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 45
-Paragraph 7
-Subparagraph (c)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477063/962-205-45-7

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanChangeInNetAssetAvailableForBenefitIncreaseForEmployerContributionCash
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line 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.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478416/962-205-50-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanDescriptionOfPlanLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of employer matching contribution on eligible participant contribution to employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanEmployerContributionMatchingPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of participant compensation eligible for employer matching contribution for participant in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanEmployerContributionParticipantCompensationMatchedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of decrease in forfeited nonvested account of employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)) from administrative expense.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (j)
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147478416/962-205-50-1

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Topic 962
-SubTopic 205
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.6A-04(5)(c))
-Publisher FASB
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/1943274/2147477804/962-205-S99-1

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanForfeitedNonvestedAccountDecreaseForAdministrativeExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of maximum account balance that participant in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)) can borrow.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipantAccountMaximumBorrowingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of maximum account balance that participant in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)) can borrow to total participant account balance.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipantAccountMaximumBorrowingToTotalAccountPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of minimum account balance that participant in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)) can borrow.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanNoteReceivableFromParticipantAccountMinimumBorrowingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of eligible compensation contributed for participant automatically enrolled in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanParticipantContributionAutomaticDeferralRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage of maximum pretax annual compensation that participant in employee stock purchase, saving, or similar plan (employee benefit plan (EBP)), is permitted to contribute to total pretax annual compensation.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap-ebp_EmployeeBenefitPlanParticipantContributionPretaxMaximumAnnualCompensationToTotalCompensationPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap-ebp_
Data Type:	dtr-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=cat_EBP037Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	cat_EBPEmployerContributionTypeAxis=cat_EBPQualifiedNonElectiveContributionsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	cat_EBPParticipantTypeAxis=cat_EBPSteelworkersUnionLocalSKMEMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	cat_EBPParticipantTypeAxis=cat_EBPDenisonMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_OwnershipAxis=cat_CaterpillarInc.Member
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	cat_EBPContributionVestingServicePeriodAxis=cat_EBPContributionVestingPeriodLessThanOneYearMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	cat_EBPContributionVestingServicePeriodAxis=cat_EBPContributionVestingPeriodOneYearMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	cat_EBPContributionVestingServicePeriodAxis=cat_EBPContributionVestingPeriodTwoYearsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	cat_EBPContributionVestingServicePeriodAxis=cat_EBPContributionVestingPeriodThreeYearsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	cat_EBPContributionVestingServicePeriodAxis=cat_EBPContributionVestingPeriodFourYearsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	cat_EBPContributionVestingServicePeriodAxis=cat_EBPContributionVestingPeriodFiveOrMoreYearsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: