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Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	3 Months Ended
Document And Entity Information - USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2011	Jun. 30, 2010
Entity Registrant Name	Colgate Palmolive Company
Entity Central Index Key	0000021665
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float		$ 38,100,000,000
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	488,893,996
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Document Type	10-Q
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2011

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) - USD ($)
$ in Millions

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2011

Mar. 31, 2010

Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) [Abstract]

Net sales

$ 3,994

$ 3,829

Cost of sales

1,663

1,561

Gross profit

2,331

2,268

Selling, general and administrative expenses

1,404

1,355

Other (income) expense, net

235

Operating profit

915

678

Interest expense, net

Income before income taxes

899

662

Provision for income taxes

292

275

Net income including noncontrolling interests

607

387

Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests

Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company

$ 576

$ 357

Earnings per common share, basic (in dollars per share)

$ 1.17

$ 0.71

Earnings per common share, diluted (in dollars per share)

1.16

0.69

Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)

^[1]

$ 1.11

$ 0.97

[1]	Two dividends were declared in each period.

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Current Assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 686	$ 490
Receivables (net of allowances of $53 in each period)	1,787	1,610
Inventories	1,331	1,222
Other current assets	470	408
Total current assets	4,274	3,730
Property, plant and equipment:
Cost	7,353	7,160
Less: Accumulated depreciation	(3,619)	(3,467)
Property, plant and equipment, net	3,734	3,693
Goodwill, net	2,411	2,362
Other intangible assets, net	832	831
Deferred income taxes	101	84
Other assets	579	472
Total assets	11,931	11,172
Current Liabilities
Notes and loans payable	41	48
Current portion of long-term debt	597	561
Accounts payable	1,181	1,165
Accrued income taxes	402	272
Other accruals	2,061	1,682
Total current liabilities	4,282	3,728
Long-term debt	3,166	2,815
Deferred income taxes	159	108
Other liabilities	1,733	1,704
Shareholders' Equity
Common stock	733	733
Additional paid-in capital	1,156	1,132
Retained earnings	14,360	14,329
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,941)	(2,115)
Shareholders' Equity Before Unearned Compensation Treasury Stock And Noncontrolling Interest	14,308	14,079
Unearned compensation	(79)	(99)
Treasury stock, at cost	(11,810)	(11,305)
Total Colgate-Palmolive Company shareholders' equity	2,419	2,675
Noncontrolling interests	172	142
Total shareholders' equity	2,591	2,817
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ 11,931	$ 11,172

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2010
Operating Activities
Net income including noncontrolling interests	$ 607	$ 387
Adjustments to reconcile net income including noncontrolling interests to net cash provided by operations:
Depreciation and amortization	99	92
Venezuela hyperinflationary transition charge	0	271
Stock-based compensation expense	38	41
Deferred income taxes	8	34
Cash effects of changes in:
Receivables	(157)	(99)
Inventories	(85)	(56)
Accounts payable and other accruals	140	27
Other non-current assets and liabilities	30	36
Net cash provided by operations	680	733
Investing Activities
Capital expenditures	(78)	(81)
Purchases of marketable securities and investments	(49)	(7)
Proceeds from sales of marketable securities and investments	36	0
Other	20	1
Net cash used in investing activities	(71)	(87)
Financing Activities
Principal payments on debt	(1,243)	(1,154)
Proceeds from issuance of debt	1,635	1,116
Dividends paid	(261)	(222)
Purchases of treasury shares	(580)	(505)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options and excess tax benefits	32	88
Net cash used in financing activities	(417)	(677)
Effect of exchange rate changes on Cash and cash equivalents	4	(8)
Net increase (decrease) in Cash and cash equivalents	196	(39)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	490	600
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	686	561
Supplemental Cash Flow Information
Income taxes paid	$ 144	$ 216

Contingencies

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2011

Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]

Contingencies

8.	Contingencies

As a global company serving consumers in more than 200 countries and territories, the Company is routinely subject to a wide variety of legal proceedings. These include disputes relating to intellectual property, contracts, product liability, marketing, advertising, foreign exchange controls, antitrust and trade regulation, as well as labor and employment, environmental and tax matters.

Management proactively reviews and monitors the Company's exposure to, and the impact of, environmental matters. The Company is party to various environmental matters and, as such, may be responsible for all or a portion of the cleanup, restoration and post-closure monitoring of several sites.

As a matter of course, the Company is regularly audited by the IRS and other tax authorities around the world in countries where it conducts business. In this regard, the IRS has completed its examination of the Company's federal income tax returns through 2005. The amount of additional tax involved as a result of assessments arising from IRS examination did not have a material impact on the financial position, results of operations or cash flows of the Company. Estimated incremental tax payments related to potential disallowances for subsequent periods are not expected to be material.

The Company establishes accruals for loss contingencies when it has determined that a loss is probable and that the amount of loss, or range of loss, can be reasonably estimated. Any such accruals are adjusted thereafter as appropriate to reflect changes in circumstances.

The Company also determines estimates of reasonably possible losses or ranges of reasonably possible losses in excess of related accrued liabilities, if any, when it has determined that a loss is reasonably possible and it is able to determine such estimates. For those matters disclosed below, the Company currently estimates that the aggregate range of reasonably possible losses in excess of any accrued liabilities is $0 to approximately $400. The estimates included in this amount are based on the Company's analysis of currently available information; and as new information is obtained, these estimates may change. Due to the inherent subjectivity of the assessments and the unpredictability of outcomes of legal proceedings, any amounts accrued or included in this aggregate amount may not represent the ultimate loss to the Company from the matters in question. Thus, the Company's exposure and ultimate losses may be higher or lower, and possibly significantly so, than the amounts accrued or the range disclosed above.

Based on current knowledge, management does not believe that the ultimate resolution of loss contingencies arising from the matters discussed herein will have a material effect on the Company's consolidated financial position or its ongoing results of operations or cash flows. However, in light of the inherent uncertainties noted above, an adverse outcome in one or more of these matters could be material to the Company's results of operations or cash flows for any particular quarter or year.

Brazilian Matters

In 2001, the Central Bank of Brazil sought to impose a substantial fine on the Company's Brazilian subsidiary (approximately $160 at the current exchange rate) based on alleged foreign exchange violations in connection with the financing of the Company's 1995 acquisition of the Kolynos oral care business from Wyeth (formerly American Home Products) (the Seller), as described in the Company's Form 8-K dated January 10, 1995. The Company appealed the imposition of the fine to the Brazilian Monetary System Appeals Council (the Council), and on January 30, 2007, the Council decided the appeal in the Company's favor, dismissing the fine entirely. However, certain tax and civil proceedings that began as a result of this Central Bank matter are still outstanding as described below.

The Brazilian internal revenue authority has disallowed interest deductions and foreign exchange losses taken by the Company's Brazilian subsidiary for certain years in connection with the financing of the Kolynos acquisition. The tax assessments with interest, at the current exchange rate, approximate $127. The Company has been disputing the disallowances by appealing the assessments within the internal revenue authority's appellate process with the following results to date:

In June 2005, the First Board of Taxpayers ruled in the Company's favor and allowed all of the previously claimed deductions for 1996 through 1998. In March 2007, the First Board of Taxpayers ruled in the Company's favor and allowed all of the previously claimed deductions for 1999 through 2001. The tax authorities appealed these decisions to the next administrative level.

In August 2009, the First Taxpayers' Council (the next and final administrative level of appeal) overruled the decisions of the First Board of Taxpayers, upholding the majority of the assessments, disallowing a portion of the assessments and remanding a portion of the assessments for further consideration by the First Board of Taxpayers.

The Company has filed a motion for reconsideration with the First Taxpayers' Council and further appeals are available within the Brazilian federal courts. The Company intends to challenge these assessments vigorously. Although there can be no assurances, management believes, based on the opinion of its Brazilian legal counsel and other advisors, that the disallowances are without merit and that the Company should ultimately prevail on appeal, if necessary, in the Brazilian federal courts.

In 2002, the Brazilian Federal Public Attorney filed a civil action against the federal government of Brazil, Laboratorios Wyeth-Whitehall Ltda. (the Brazilian subsidiary of the Seller) and the Company, as represented by its Brazilian subsidiary, seeking to annul an April 2000 decision by the Brazilian Board of Tax Appeals that found in favor of the Seller's Brazilian subsidiary on the issue of whether it had incurred taxable capital gains as a result of the divestiture of Kolynos. The action seeks to make the Company's Brazilian subsidiary jointly and severally liable for any tax due from the Seller's Brazilian subsidiary. Although there can be no assurances, management believes, based on the opinion of its Brazilian legal counsel, that the Company should ultimately prevail in this action. The Company intends to challenge this action vigorously.

In December 2005, the Brazilian internal revenue authority issued to the Company's Brazilian subsidiary a tax assessment with interest and penalties of approximately $75, at the current exchange rate, based on a claim that certain purchases of U.S. Treasury bills by the subsidiary and their subsequent disposition during the period 2000 to 2001 were subject to a tax on foreign exchange transactions. The Company is disputing the assessment within the internal revenue authority's administrative appeals process. In October 2007, the Second Board of Taxpayers, which has jurisdiction over these matters, ruled in favor of the internal revenue authority. In January 2008, the Company appealed this decision to the next administrative level. Although there can be no assurances, management believes, based on the advice of its Brazilian legal counsel, that the tax assessment is without merit and that the Company should prevail on appeal either at the administrative level or, if necessary, in the Brazilian federal courts. The Company intends to challenge this assessment vigorously.

European Competition Matters

Since February 2006, the Company has learned that investigations relating to potential competition law violations involving the Company's subsidiaries had been commenced by governmental authorities in a number of European countries and by the European Commission. The Company understands that many of these investigations also involve other consumer goods companies and/or retail customers. The status of the various pending matters is discussed below.

Fines have been imposed on the Company in the following matters, although the Company is appealing these fines:

In December 2009, the Swiss competition law authority imposed a fine of $5 on the Company's GABA subsidiary for alleged violations of restrictions on parallel imports into Switzerland. The Company is appealing the fine in the Swiss courts.

In January 2010, the Spanish competition law authority found that four suppliers of shower gel had entered into an agreement regarding product down-sizing, for which Colgate's Spanish subsidiary was fined $3. The Company is appealing the fine in the Spanish courts.

In December 2010, the Italian competition law authority found that 16 consumer goods companies, including the Company's Italian subsidiary, exchanged competitively sensitive information in the cosmetics sector, for which the Company's Italian subsidiary was fined $3. The Company is appealing the fine in the Italian courts.

Currently, formal claims of violations, or statements of objections, are pending against the Company as follows:

The French competition authority alleges agreements on pricing and promotion of heavy duty detergents among four consumer goods companies, including the Company's French subsidiary.

The French competition authority alleges violations of competition law by three pet food producers, including the Company's Hill's France subsidiary, focusing on exclusivity arrangements.

The Dutch competition authority alleges that six companies, including the Company's Dutch subsidiary, engaged in concerted practices and exchanged sensitive information in the cosmetics sector.

The German competition authority alleges that 17 branded goods companies, including the Company's German subsidiary, exchanged sensitive information related to the German market.

The Company has responded to each of these formal claims of violations. Investigations are ongoing in Belgium, France and Greece, but no formal claims of violations have been filed in these jurisdictions except in France as noted above.

Since December 31, 2010, the following matters have been resolved:

In April 2011, the investigation by the European Commission was resolved with no formal claims of violations or decisions made against the Company. To the Company's knowledge, there are no other investigations by the European Commission relating to potential competition law violations involving the Company or its subsidiaries.

The Company's policy is to comply with antitrust and competition laws and, if a violation of any such laws is found, to take appropriate remedial action and to cooperate fully with any related governmental inquiry. The Company has undertaken a comprehensive review of its selling practices and related competition law compliance in Europe and elsewhere and, where the Company has identified a lack of compliance, it has undertaken remedial action. Competition and antitrust law investigations often continue for several years and can result in substantial fines for violations that are found. Such fines, depending on the gravity and duration of the infringement as well as the value of the sales involved, have amounted, in some cases, to hundreds of millions of dollars. While the Company cannot predict the final financial impact of these competition law issues as these matters may change, the Company evaluates developments in these matters quarterly, and accrues liabilities as and when appropriate.

ERISA Matters

In October 2007, a putative class action claiming that certain aspects of the cash balance portion of the Colgate-Palmolive Company Employees' Retirement Income Plan (the Plan) do not comply with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act was filed against the Plan and the Company in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Specifically, Proesel, et al. v. Colgate-Palmolive Company Employees' Retirement Income Plan, et al. alleges improper calculation of lump sum distributions, age discrimination and failure to satisfy minimum accrual requirements, thereby resulting in the underpayment of benefits to Plan participants. Two other putative class actions filed earlier in 2007, Abelman, et al. v. Colgate-Palmolive Company Employees' Retirement Income Plan, et al., in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, and Caufield v. Colgate-Palmolive Company Employees' Retirement Income Plan, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, both alleging improper calculation of lump sum distributions and, in the case of Abelman, claims for failure to satisfy minimum accrual requirements, were transferred to the Southern District of New York and consolidated with Proesel into one action, In re Colgate-Palmolive ERISA Litigation. The complaint in the consolidated action alleges improper calculation of lump sum distributions and failure to satisfy minimum accrual requirements, but does not include a claim for age discrimination. The relief sought includes recalculation of benefits in unspecified amounts, pre- and post-judgment interest, injunctive relief and attorneys' fees. This action has not been certified as a class action as yet. The parties are in discussions via non-binding mediation to determine whether the action can be settled. The Company and the Plan intend to contest this action vigorously should the parties be unable to reach a settlement.

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2011

Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements

10.	Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements

The Company uses available market information and other valuation methodologies in assessing the fair value of financial instruments. Judgment is required in interpreting market data to develop the estimates of fair value and, accordingly, changes in assumptions or the estimation methodologies may affect the fair value estimates. The Company is exposed to credit losses in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to financial instrument contracts; however, nonperformance is considered unlikely as it is the Company's policy to contract only with diverse, highly rated counterparties.

The Company is exposed to market risk from foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and commodity price fluctuations. Volatility relating to these exposures is managed on a global basis by utilizing a number of techniques, including working capital management, selling price increases, selective borrowings in local currencies and entering into selective derivative instrument transactions, issued with standard features, in accordance with the Company's treasury and risk management policies, which prohibit the use of derivatives for speculative purposes and leveraged derivatives for any purpose. It is the Company's policy to enter into derivative instrument contracts with terms that match the underlying exposure being hedged. Hedge ineffectiveness, if any, is not material for any period presented.

The Company's derivative instruments include interest rate swap contracts, foreign currency contracts and commodity contracts. The Company utilizes interest rate swap contracts to manage its targeted mix of fixed and floating rate debt, and these swaps are valued using observable benchmark rates (Level 2 valuation). Foreign currency contracts consist of forward, option and swap contracts utilized to hedge a portion of the Company's foreign currency purchases, assets and liabilities created in the normal course of business as well as the net investment in certain foreign subsidiaries. These contracts are valued using observable market rates (Level 2 valuation). Commodity futures contracts are utilized to hedge the purchases of raw materials used in the Company's operations. These contracts are measured using quoted commodity exchange prices (Level 1 valuation). The duration of foreign currency and commodity contracts generally does not exceed 12 months.

The following summarizes the fair value of the Company's derivative instruments and other financial instruments at March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010:

	Assets					Liabilities
	Account	Fair Value				Account	Fair Value
Designated derivative instruments		3/31/11		12/31/10			3/31/11		12/31/10
Interest rate swap contracts	Other assets	$	19	$	22	Other liabilities	$	7	$	7
Foreign currency contracts	Other current assets		9		10	Other accruals		15		10
Commodity contracts	Other current assets		3		4	Other accruals		¾		¾
Total designated		$	31	$	36		$	22	$	17

Derivatives not designated
Foreign currency contracts	Other current assets	$	¾	$	¾	Other accruals	$	6	$	2
Total not designated		$	¾	$	¾		$	6	$	2

Total derivative instruments		$	31	$	36		$	28	$	19

Other financial instruments
Marketable securities	Other current assets	$	43	$	74
Available-for-sale securities	Other assets		344		228
Total other financial instruments		$	387	$	302

The carrying amount of cash, cash equivalents, accounts receivable and short-term debt approximated fair value as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010. The estimated fair value of the Company's long-term debt, including the current portion, as of March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, was $3,978 and $3,613, respectively, and the related carrying value was $3,763 and $3,376, respectively. The estimated fair value of long-term debt was derived principally from quoted prices on the Company's outstanding fixed-term notes (Level 2 valuation).

Fair value hedges

The Company has designated all interest rate swap contracts and certain foreign currency forward contracts as fair value hedges, for which the gain or loss on the derivative and the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item are recognized in current earnings. The impact of foreign currency contracts is recognized in Selling, general and administrative expenses and the impact of interest rate swap contracts is recognized in Interest expense, net. Activity related to fair value hedges recorded during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 was as follows:

	2011									2010
	Foreign Currency Contracts			Interest Rate Swaps			Total			Foreign Currency Contracts			Interest Rate Swaps			Total
Notional Value at March 31,	$	917		$	788		$	1,705		$	972		$	600		$	1,572
Gain (loss) on derivative		6			(3	)		3			4			4			8
Gain (loss) on hedged items		(6	)		3			(3	)		(4	)		(4	)		(8	)

Cash flow hedges

All of the Company's commodity contracts and certain foreign currency forward contracts have been designated as cash flow hedges, for which the effective portion of the gain or loss is reported as a component of Other comprehensive income (OCI) and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings. Activity related to cash flow hedges recorded during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 was as follows:

	2011								2010
	Foreign Currency Contracts			Commodity Contracts		Total			Foreign Currency Contracts		Commodity Contracts			Total
Notional Value at March 31,	$	359		$	26	$	385		$	215	$	19		$	234
Gain (loss) recognized in OCI		(3	)		2		(1	)		1		(2	)		(1	)
Gain (loss) reclassified into Cost of sales		(4	)		3		(1	)		1		¾			1

The net gain (loss) recognized in OCI for both foreign currency contracts and commodity contracts is expected to be recognized in Cost of sales within the next twelve months.

Net investment hedges

The Company has designated certain foreign currency forward and option contracts and certain foreign currency-denominated debt as net investment hedges, for which the gain or loss on the instrument is reported as a component of Currency translation adjustments within OCI, along with the offsetting gain or loss on the hedged items. Activity related to net investment hedges recorded during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 was as follows:

	2011									2010
	Foreign Currency Contracts			Foreign Currency Debt			Total			Foreign Currency Contracts			Foreign Currency Debt			Total
Notional Value at March 31,	$	218		$	312		$	530		$	138		$	360		$	498
Gain (loss) on instruments		(7	)		(14	)		(21	)		(1	)		18			17
Gain (loss) on hedged items		7			14			21			1			(18	)		(17	)

Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments

Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments for each period consist of a cross-currency swap which serves as an economic hedge of a foreign currency deposit, for which the gain or loss on the instrument and the offsetting gain or loss on the hedged item are recognized in Other (income) expense, net for each period. Activity related to these contracts during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2011 and 2010 was as follows:

	2011			2010
	Cross-currency Swap			Cross-currency Swap
Notional Value at March 31,	$	90		$	99
Gain (loss) on instrument		(4	)		6
Gain (loss) on hedged item		4			(6	)

Other Financial Instruments

Marketable securities consist of bank deposits with original maturities greater than 90 days (Level 1 valuation).

Available-for-sale securities consist of the fixed income investments discussed below.

The Company is invested in a portfolio of euro-denominated investment grade fixed income securities, including corporate bonds, with maturities generally ranging from one to three years. The portfolio is considered a Level 1 investment as all of the securities have quoted prices on an active exchange with daily liquidity. At March 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, the portfolio's fair value was $142 and $132, respectively, and was reported in Other assets in the Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheet.

Through its subsidiary in Venezuela, the Company is also invested in U.S. dollar-linked, devaluation-protected bonds issued by the Venezuelan government. As of December 31, 2010, these bonds were considered Level 3 as there was no trading activity in the market at the end of 2010 and their value was determined using unobservable inputs reflecting the Company's own assumptions. As of March 31, 2011, these bonds are actively traded and, therefore, are considered Level 2 as their value is determined based upon observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data. The following table presents a reconciliation of these investments at fair value for the three months ended March 31:

	2011		2010
Beginning balance as of January 1	$	96	$	46
Unrealized gain (loss) on investment		62		(18	)
Purchases during the year		44		¾
Ending balance as of March 31	$	202	$	28

As a result of the Venezuelan government's elimination of the two-tier exchange rate structure effective January 1, 2011, these bonds have revalued and, based on recent market activity, the Company recorded an unrealized gain of $62 during the first quarter of 2011. For further information regarding Venezuela, refer to Note 11 below.

Venezuela

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2011

Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]

Venezuela

11.

Venezuela

Effective January 1, 2010, Venezuela was designated as hyperinflationary and therefore the functional currency for the Company's Venezuelan subsidiary (CP Venezuela) became the U.S. dollar. As a result, the impact of Venezuelan currency fluctuations is reported in income. The change in the reporting currency from the Venezuelan bolivar fuerte to the U.S. dollar resulted in a one-time charge of $271 recorded within Other (income) expense, net in the first quarter of 2010. This charge primarily represented the premium paid to acquire U.S. dollar-denominated cash ($150) and bonds ($152) at the parallel market rate, offset by $31 for U.S. dollar-denominated payables. Previously these items had been remeasured at the parallel market rate and then translated for financial reporting purposes at the official rate of 2.15.

On January 8, 2010, the Venezuelan government announced its decision to devalue its currency and implement a two-tier exchange rate structure. As a result, the official exchange rate changed from 2.15 to 2.60 for essential goods and 4.30 for non-essential goods. The devaluation resulted in a one-time pretax gain of $46 recorded in Other (income) expense and an aftertax gain of $59 in the first quarter of 2010 related to the remeasurement of the local balance sheet and lower taxes on accrued but unpaid remittances from Venezuela. In December 2010, the Venezuelan government announced that effective January 1, 2011 the 2.60 exchange rate for essential goods would be abolished. As a result, CP Venezuela incurred an aftertax loss of $36 in the fourth quarter of 2010 related to the remeasurement of certain local balance sheet items for which the 2.60 exchange rate will no longer be received. This loss was offset by lower taxes on accrued but unpaid remittances.

We remeasure the financial statements of CP Venezuela at the rate at which we expect to remit future dividends, which currently is 4.30. As a result of the devaluations of the Venezuelan bolivar fuerte, the local currency operations of CP Venezuela now translate into fewer U.S. dollars.

For the three months ended March 31, 2011, CP Venezuela represented 5% of the Company's consolidated Net sales. At March 31, 2011, CP Venezuela's bolivar fuerte-denominated monetary net asset position was approximately $225, which does not include $202 of devaluation-protected bonds issued by the Venezuelan government, as these bonds provide protection against devaluations by adjusting the amount of bolivares fuertes received at maturity for any devaluation subsequent to issuance. As described in Note 10, these bonds are considered a Level 2 investment.

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2011

Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]

Schedule of derivative instruments

	Assets					Liabilities
	Account	Fair Value				Account	Fair Value
Designated derivative instruments		3/31/11		12/31/10			3/31/11		12/31/10
Interest rate swap contracts	Other assets	$	19	$	22	Other liabilities	$	7	$	7
Foreign currency contracts	Other current assets		9		10	Other accruals		15		10
Commodity contracts	Other current assets		3		4	Other accruals		¾		¾
Total designated		$	31	$	36		$	22	$	17

Derivatives not designated
Foreign currency contracts	Other current assets	$	¾	$	¾	Other accruals	$	6	$	2
Total not designated		$	¾	$	¾		$	6	$	2

Total derivative instruments		$	31	$	36		$	28	$	19

Other financial instruments
Marketable securities	Other current assets	$	43	$	74
Available-for-sale securities	Other assets		344		228
Total other financial instruments		$	387	$	302

Activity related to fair value hedges

	2011									2010
	Foreign Currency Contracts			Interest Rate Swaps			Total			Foreign Currency Contracts			Interest Rate Swaps			Total
Notional Value at March 31,	$	917		$	788		$	1,705		$	972		$	600		$	1,572
Gain (loss) on derivative		6			(3	)		3			4			4			8
Gain (loss) on hedged items		(6	)		3			(3	)		(4	)		(4	)		(8	)

Activity related to cash flow hedges

	2011								2010
	Foreign Currency Contracts			Commodity Contracts		Total			Foreign Currency Contracts		Commodity Contracts			Total
Notional Value at March 31,	$	359		$	26	$	385		$	215	$	19		$	234
Gain (loss) recognized in OCI		(3	)		2		(1	)		1		(2	)		(1	)
Gain (loss) reclassified into Cost of sales		(4	)		3		(1	)		1		¾			1

	2011									2010
	Foreign Currency Contracts			Foreign Currency Debt			Total			Foreign Currency Contracts			Foreign Currency Debt			Total
Notional Value at March 31,	$	218		$	312		$	530		$	138		$	360		$	498
Gain (loss) on instruments		(7	)		(14	)		(21	)		(1	)		18			17
Gain (loss) on hedged items		7			14			21			1			(18	)		(17	)

	2011			2010
	Cross-currency Swap			Cross-currency Swap
Notional Value at March 31,	$	90		$	99
Gain (loss) on instrument		(4	)		6
Gain (loss) on hedged item		4			(6	)

Reconciliation of U.S. dollar-linked, devaluation-protected bonds measured at fair value

The following table presents a reconciliation of these investments at fair value for the three months ended March 31:

	2011		2010
Beginning balance as of January 1	$	96	$	46
Unrealized gain (loss) on investment		62		(18	)
Purchases during the year		44		¾
Ending balance as of March 31	$	202	$	28

Shareholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Shareholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2010
Changes in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance	$ 2,817
Net income	607	$ 387
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	175	(35)
Balance	2,591
Common Stock [Member]
Changes in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance	733
Balance	733
Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]
Changes in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance	1,132
Stock-based compensation expense	38
Shares issued for stock options	11
Other	(25)
Balance	1,156
Unearned Compensation [Member]
Changes in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance	(99)
Other	20
Balance	(79)
Treasury Stock [Member]
Changes in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance	(11,305)
Shares issued for stock options	49
Treasury stock acquired	(580)
Other	26
Balance	(11,810)
Retained Earnings [Member]
Changes in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance	14,329
Net income	576
Dividends	(545)
Balance	14,360
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]
Changes in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance	(2,115)
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	174
Balance	(1,941)
Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Changes in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance	142
Net income	31	$ 30
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	1
Dividends	(2)
Balance	$ 172

Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Comprehensive Income (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2010
Components Of Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net income	$ 607	$ 387
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Cumulative translation adjustment	121	(33)
Retirement Plan and other retiree benefit adjustments	14	11
Other	40	(13)
Total Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	175	(35)
Comprehensive income	782	352
Colgate-Palmolive Company shareholders' equity [Member]
Components Of Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net income	576	357
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Cumulative translation adjustment	120	(33)
Retirement Plan and other retiree benefit adjustments	14	11
Other	40	(13)
Total Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	174	(35)
Comprehensive income	750	322
Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Components Of Comprehensive Income [Line Items]
Net income	31	30
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Cumulative translation adjustment	1
Total Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	1
Comprehensive income	$ 32	$ 30

Earnings Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 29, 2010
Income [Abstract]
Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company	$ 576	$ 357
Preferred dividends		(8)
Basic EPS	576	349
Convertible preference stock		8
Diluted EPS	$ 576	$ 357
Shares [Abstract]
Basic EPS (in shares)	493,400,000	493,700,000
Stock options and restricted stock (in shares)	3,200,000	4,800,000
Convertible preference stock (in shares)		20,500,000
Diluted EPS (in shares)	496,600,000	519,000,000
Per Share [Abstract]
Basic EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 1.17	$ 0.71
Diluted EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 1.16	$ 0.69
Average number of anti-dilutive shares (in shares)	4,214,263	18,300
Preference stock retired (in shares)			2,405,192
Common stock converted (in shares)			19,241,536

Retirement Plans and Other Retiree Benefits (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2010
United States Pension Benefits [Member]
Components of net periodic benefit cost
Service cost	$ 7	$ 12
Interest cost	26	24
Annual ESOP allocation	0	0
Expected return on plan assets	(28)	(25)
Amortization of transition and prior service costs (credits)	2	1
Amortization of actuarial loss	11	11
Net periodic benefit cost	18	23
International Pension Benefits [Member]
Components of net periodic benefit cost
Service cost	5	5
Interest cost	9	9
Annual ESOP allocation	0	0
Expected return on plan assets	(7)	(6)
Amortization of transition and prior service costs (credits)	1	0
Amortization of actuarial loss	2	1
Net periodic benefit cost	10	9
Other Retiree Benefits [Member]
Components of net periodic benefit cost
Service cost	3	3
Interest cost	11	10
Annual ESOP allocation	(1)	(2)
Expected return on plan assets	(1)	(1)
Amortization of transition and prior service costs (credits)	2	0
Amortization of actuarial loss	5	3
Net periodic benefit cost	$ 19	$ 13

Contingencies (Details) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2011 USD ($)
Contingencies [Abstract]
Range of reasonably possible losses, minimum	$ 0
Range of reasonably possible losses, maximum	400
Central Bank of Brazilian Matter	160
Brazilian Internal Revenue Authority Matter 1	127
Brazilian Internal Revenue Authority Matter 2	75
European Competition Matters - Swiss Competition Law Authority	5
European Competition Matters - Spanish Competition Law Authority	3
European Competition Matters - Italian Competition Law Authority	$ 3

Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2010
Net sales and Operating profit by segment [Abstract]
Venezuela hyperinflationary transition charge	$ 0	$ 271
Schedule Of Segment Reporting Information By Segment [Line Items]
Total Net sales	3,994	3,829
Total Operating profit	915	678
Oral, Personal and Home Care [Member]
Schedule Of Segment Reporting Information By Segment [Line Items]
Total Net sales	3,460	3,313
Total Operating profit	906	937
Oral, Personal and Home Care [Member] \| North America [Member]
Schedule Of Segment Reporting Information By Segment [Line Items]
Total Net sales	718	753
Total Operating profit	192	217
Oral, Personal and Home Care [Member] \| Latin America [Member]
Schedule Of Segment Reporting Information By Segment [Line Items]
Total Net sales	1,097	1,006
Total Operating profit	326	340
Oral, Personal and Home Care [Member] \| Europe/South Pacific [Member]
Schedule Of Segment Reporting Information By Segment [Line Items]
Total Net sales	832	824
Total Operating profit	185	191
Oral, Personal and Home Care [Member] \| Greater Asia/Africa [Member]
Schedule Of Segment Reporting Information By Segment [Line Items]
Total Net sales	813	730
Total Operating profit	203	189
Pet Nutrition [Member]
Schedule Of Segment Reporting Information By Segment [Line Items]
Total Net sales	534	516
Total Operating profit	141	141
Corporate [Member]
Schedule Of Segment Reporting Information By Segment [Line Items]
Total Operating profit	$ (132)	$ (400)

Financial Instruments and Fair Value Measurements (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2011	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2010
Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Designated asset derivative instruments	$ 31		$ 36
Total asset derivatives	31		36
Designated liability derivative instruments	22		17
Liability derivatives not designated	6		2
Total liability derivatives	28		19
Activity related to fair value hedges
Notional Value at March 31 ,	1,705	$ 1,572
Gain (loss) on derivative	3	8
Gain (loss) on hedged items	(3)	(8)
Activity related to cash flow hedges [Abstract]
Notional value at March 31	385	234
Gain (loss) recognized in Other comprehensive income	(1)	(1)
Gain (loss) reclassified into Cost of sales	(1)	1
Activity related to net investment hedges [Abstract]
Notional Value at March 31	530	498
Gain (loss) on instruments	(21)	17
Gain (loss) on hedged items	21	(17)
Investment grade fixed income securities [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair value	142		132
US Dollar-linked, devaluation-protected bonds issued by Venezuelan government [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair value	202
Unrealized gain on investment	62
Beginning balance	96	46
Unrealized gain (loss) on investment	62	(18)
Purchases during the year	44	0
Ending balance	202	$ 28
Fair Value Inputs Level (1) [Member] \| Financial instruments recorded in other current assets [Member]
Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Marketable securities	43		74
Fair Value [Member]
Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Total other financial instruments	387		302
Fair Value [Member] \| Financial instruments recorded in other assets [Member]
Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Available-for-sale securities	344		228
Fair Value Inputs Level (2) [Member]
Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Long-term debt	3,978		3,613
Carrying Value [Member]
Financial Instruments [Line Items]
Long-term debt	3,763		3,376
Interest rate swap contracts [Member] \| Other assets [Member]
Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Designated asset derivative instruments	19		22
Interest rate swap contracts [Member] \| Other liabilities [Member]
Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Designated liability derivative instruments	7		7
Foreign currency contracts [Member] \| Other current assets [Member]
Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Designated asset derivative instruments	9		10
Asset derivatives not designated	0		0
Foreign currency contracts [Member] \| Other accruals [Member]
Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Designated liability derivative instruments	15		10
Liability derivatives not designated	6		2
Commodity contracts [Member] \| Other current assets [Member]
Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Designated asset derivative instruments	3		4
Commodity contracts [Member] \| Other accruals [Member]
Derivative Instruments [Abstract]
Designated liability derivative instruments	$ 0		$ 0

Venezuela (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
Venezuela (Details) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2011 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2010 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2010 USD ($)	Jan. 08, 2010
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]
Venezuela hyperinflationary transition charge	$ 0	$ 271
Charge for the premium paid to acquire USD cash		(150)
Charge for the premium paid to acquire USD bonds		(152)
Gain for the premium paid on USD payables		31
Official currency exchange rate for Venezuela prior to devaluation				2.15
Official currency exchange rate in Venezuela for essential goods beginning January 8, 2010				2.60
Official currency exchange rate in Venezuela for non-essential goods beginning January 8, 2010				4.30
One-time pretax gain due to Venezuela currency devaluation		46
One-time aftertax gain due to currency devaluation		$ 59
Official currency exchange rate in Venezuela for essential goods abolished effective January 1, 2011			2.60
Aftertax loss related to remeasurement			$ 36
Percentage of consolidated Net sales represented by CP Venezuela (in hundredths)	5.00%
CP Venezuela's bolivar fuerte-denominated monetary net asset position	$ 225
US Dollar-linked, devaluation-protected bonds issued by Venezuelan government [Member]
Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]
Fair value	$ 202

Label	Element	Value
Foreign currency contracts [Member]
Change In Unrealized Gain Loss On Hedged Item In Net Investment Hedge	cl_ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnHedgedItemInNetInvestmentHedge	$ 7,000,000
Change In Unrealized Gain Loss On Hedged Item In Net Investment Hedge	cl_ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnHedgedItemInNetInvestmentHedge	1,000,000
Gain (loss) on instruments	us-gaap_TranslationAdjustmentForNetInvestmentHedgeIncreaseDecreaseNetOfTax	(7,000,000)
Gain (loss) on instruments	us-gaap_TranslationAdjustmentForNetInvestmentHedgeIncreaseDecreaseNetOfTax	(1,000,000)
Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Hedged Item in Fair Value Hedge	us-gaap_ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnHedgedItemInFairValueHedge	(6,000,000)
Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Hedged Item in Fair Value Hedge	us-gaap_ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnHedgedItemInFairValueHedge	(4,000,000)
Gain (loss) on derivative	us-gaap_GainLossOnFairValueHedgesRecognizedInEarnings	6,000,000
Gain (loss) on derivative	us-gaap_GainLossOnFairValueHedgesRecognizedInEarnings	4,000,000
Cash Flow Hedge Gain Loss To Be Reclassified During Next 12 Months	cl_CashFlowHedgeGainLossToBeReclassifiedDuringNext12Months	(3,000,000)
Cash Flow Hedge Gain Loss To Be Reclassified During Next 12 Months	cl_CashFlowHedgeGainLossToBeReclassifiedDuringNext12Months	1,000,000
Notional Value at March 31 ,	us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfFairValueHedgeInstruments	917,000,000
Notional Value at March 31 ,	us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfFairValueHedgeInstruments	972,000,000
Gain (loss) reclassified into Cost of sales	us-gaap_CashFlowHedgeGainLossReclassifiedToCostOfSalesNet	(4,000,000)
Gain (loss) reclassified into Cost of sales	us-gaap_CashFlowHedgeGainLossReclassifiedToCostOfSalesNet	1,000,000
Notional Amount of Net Investment Hedge Instruments	us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfNetInvestmentHedgeInstruments	218,000,000
Notional Amount of Net Investment Hedge Instruments	us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfNetInvestmentHedgeInstruments	138,000,000
Notional value at March 31	us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfCashFlowHedgeInstruments	359,000,000
Notional value at March 31	us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfCashFlowHedgeInstruments	215,000,000
Interest rate swap contracts [Member]
Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Hedged Item in Fair Value Hedge	us-gaap_ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnHedgedItemInFairValueHedge	3,000,000
Change in Unrealized Gain (Loss) on Hedged Item in Fair Value Hedge	us-gaap_ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnHedgedItemInFairValueHedge	(4,000,000)
Gain (loss) on derivative	us-gaap_GainLossOnFairValueHedgesRecognizedInEarnings	(3,000,000)
Gain (loss) on derivative	us-gaap_GainLossOnFairValueHedgesRecognizedInEarnings	4,000,000
Notional Value at March 31 ,	us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfFairValueHedgeInstruments	788,000,000
Notional Value at March 31 ,	us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfFairValueHedgeInstruments	600,000,000
Commodity contracts [Member]
Cash Flow Hedge Gain Loss To Be Reclassified During Next 12 Months	cl_CashFlowHedgeGainLossToBeReclassifiedDuringNext12Months	2,000,000
Cash Flow Hedge Gain Loss To Be Reclassified During Next 12 Months	cl_CashFlowHedgeGainLossToBeReclassifiedDuringNext12Months	(2,000,000)
Gain (loss) reclassified into Cost of sales	us-gaap_CashFlowHedgeGainLossReclassifiedToCostOfSalesNet	3,000,000
Gain (loss) reclassified into Cost of sales	us-gaap_CashFlowHedgeGainLossReclassifiedToCostOfSalesNet	0
Notional value at March 31	us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfCashFlowHedgeInstruments	26,000,000
Notional value at March 31	us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfCashFlowHedgeInstruments	19,000,000
Cross-currency swap [Member]
Change In Unrealized Gain Loss On Underlying	cl_ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnUnderlying	4,000,000
Change In Unrealized Gain Loss On Underlying	cl_ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnUnderlying	(6,000,000)
Notional Amount of Foreign Currency Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments	us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfForeignCurrencyDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments	90,000,000
Notional Amount of Foreign Currency Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments	us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfForeignCurrencyDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments	99,000,000
Gain (loss) on instrument	us-gaap_GainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments	(4,000,000)
Gain (loss) on instrument	us-gaap_GainLossOnForeignCurrencyDerivativeInstrumentsNotDesignatedAsHedgingInstruments	6,000,000
Foreign currency denominated debt [Member]
Change In Unrealized Gain Loss On Hedged Item In Net Investment Hedge	cl_ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnHedgedItemInNetInvestmentHedge	14,000,000
Change In Unrealized Gain Loss On Hedged Item In Net Investment Hedge	cl_ChangeInUnrealizedGainLossOnHedgedItemInNetInvestmentHedge	(18,000,000)
Gain (loss) on instruments	us-gaap_TranslationAdjustmentForNetInvestmentHedgeIncreaseDecreaseNetOfTax	(14,000,000)
Gain (loss) on instruments	us-gaap_TranslationAdjustmentForNetInvestmentHedgeIncreaseDecreaseNetOfTax	18,000,000
Notional Amount of Net Investment Hedge Instruments	us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfNetInvestmentHedgeInstruments	312,000,000
Notional Amount of Net Investment Hedge Instruments	us-gaap_NotionalAmountOfNetInvestmentHedgeInstruments	$ 360,000,000

Inventories (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Inventory, Net [Abstract]
Raw materials and supplies	$ 315	$ 295
Work-in-process	52	50
Finished goods	964	877
Total Inventories	$ 1,331	$ 1,222