Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details)

v2.4.1.9
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 29, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Maximum    
Guarantee Obligations    
Forward contract, term 2 years  
Other Guarantees and Commitments    
Guarantee Obligations    
Guarantor obligations, maximum potential loss 5us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposure
/ us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis
= cmi_MiscellaneousGuaranteesMember
 
Long-term purchase commitment, penalty exposure 70cmi_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentRemainingAmountOfPenalty
/ us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis
= cmi_MiscellaneousGuaranteesMember
 
Total commitments under commodity contracts 55cmi_CommodityContractLiabilityNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis
= cmi_MiscellaneousGuaranteesMember
 
Engine parts supplier    
Guarantee Obligations    
Long-term purchase commitment, penalty exposure 36cmi_LongTermPurchaseCommitmentRemainingAmountOfPenalty
/ us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis
= cmi_EnginePartsSupplierMember
 
Performance bonds and other performance-related guarantees    
Guarantee Obligations    
Guarantee obligations, current carrying value 73us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsCurrentCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceGuaranteeMember
$ 76us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsCurrentCarryingValue
/ us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsByNatureAxis
= us-gaap_PerformanceGuaranteeMember
US Distributor Commitments    
Other Commitments    
Licensing agreement term 3 years  
Number of days in which distributors can terminate agreements without cause 60 days  
Number of days in which distributors can terminate agreements with cause 30 days