Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements_n Restructuring and Related Implementation Charges Receivables (net of allowances of $51 and $47, respectively) Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) Less: Accumulated depreciation Less: Accumulated depreciation Payment for acquisitions, net of cash acquired Additional paid-in capital Capital expenditures Capital expenditures Allowance for receivables Statement of Financial Position Cash and cash equivalents Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period Cash and cash equivalents at end of period Accounts payable and other accruals Inventories Increase (Decrease) in Inventories Receivables Cash effects of changes in: Contingencies Common stock Cost of sales Liabilities Total current liabilities Total current liabilities Long-term debt Earnings per common share, diluted Effect of exchange rate changes on Cash and cash equivalents Gross profit Gross profit Income Statement Other intangible assets, net Inventories Liabilities and Shareholders' Equity Total liabilities and shareholders' equity Total liabilities and shareholders' equity Total liabilities Total liabilities Current portion of long-term debt Long Term Debt Current Current portion of long-term debt Noncontrolling interests Financing Activities Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities Net cash used in financing activities Investing Activities Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities Net cash used in investing activities Operating Activities Net cash provided by operations Net cash provided by operations Net income Net income Net (decrease) increase in Cash and cash equivalents Net increase in Cash and cash equivalents Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Operating profit Operating profit Basis of Presentation Other non-current assets and liabilities Other current assets Other Other Dividends paid Dividends paid Retirement Plans and Other Retiree Benefits Cost Property, plant and equipment, net Property, plant and equipment, net Purchases of treasury shares Purchases of treasury shares Restructuring and Related Implementation Charges Retained earnings Net sales Inventories Inventory Disclosure [Text Block] Segment Information Selling, general and administrative expenses Statement of Cash Flows Supplemental Cash Flow Information Income taxes paid Assets Total current assets Total current assets Property, plant and equipment: Total assets Total assets Other liabilities Dividends declared per common share Deferred income taxes Deferred Tax Liabilities, Noncurrent Assets Assets [Abstract] Treasury stock, at cost Treasury stock, at cost Earnings per common share, basic Other assets Earnings Per Share [Abstract] Income before income taxes Income before income taxes Deferred income taxes Unearned compensation Unearned compensation Total Colgate-Palmolive Company shareholders' equity Total Colgate-Palmolive Company shareholders' equity Provision for income taxes Notes and loans payable Preference stock Goodwill, net Basis of Presentation Basis Of Accounting Earnings Per Share Net income including noncontrolling interests Net income including noncontrolling interests Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests Accrued income taxes Depreciation and amortization Total shareholders' equity Shareholders' Equity [Abstract] Total shareholders' equity Total shareholders' equity Accounts payable Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operations: Other accruals Other (income) expense, net The total amount of other operating income, not previously categorized, from items that are associated with the entity's normal revenue producing operation, and the total amount of other operating cost and expense items that are associated with the entity's normal revenue producing operation. Interest expense, net The aggregate interest and debt related expenses associated with nonoperating financing activities of the entity, less the amount of income derived from investments in debt securities and on cash and cash equivalents, the earnings of which reflect the time value of money or transactions in which the payments are for the use or forbearance of money. Restructuring, net of cash The amount of noncash restructuring costs net of cash payments. Stock-based compensation expense The aggregate amount of noncash, equity-based employee remuneration, including the value of stock options and restricted stock. Principal payments on debt The cash outflow in aggregate due to repayments of borrowings. Principal payments on debt Proceeds from issuance of debt The cash inflow in aggregate due to borrowings. Proceeds from issuance of debt Proceeds from exercise of stock options and excess tax benefits The cash inflow associated with the amount received from holders exercising their stock options, and reductions in the entity's income taxes that arise when compensation cost (from non-qualified share-based compensation) recognized on the entity's tax return exceeds compensation cost from share-based compensation recognized in financial statements. This element represents the cash inflow reported in the enterprise's financing activities. Proceeds from exercise of stock options and excess tax benefits Basis of Presentation [Abstract] Use of Estimates [Abstract] Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements [Abstract] Inventories [Abstract] Restructuring and Related Implementation Charges [Abstract] Retirement Plans and Other Retiree Benefits [Abstract] Contingencies [Abstract] Segment Information Abstract] Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments [Abstract] Parenthetical Information [Abstract] Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments This item represents the complete disclosure regarding the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments, assets, and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the Company is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risk is are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information. This element can be used to disclose the entity's entire derivative instruments and hedging activities disclosure as a single block of text. Describes an entity's risk management strategies, derivatives in hedging activities and non-hedging derivative instruments, the assets, obligations, liabilities, revenues and expenses arising there from, and the amounts of and methodologies and assumptions used in determining the amounts of such items. Dividends Paid The cash outflow from Net income including noncontrolling interests to Colgate-Palmolive Company shareholders and to Noncontrolling interests. Dividends paid Document Information [Line Items] Document Type Document Period End Date Amendment Flag Amendment Description Entity Information [Line Items] Entity Registrant Name Entity Central Index Key Current Fiscal Year End Date Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer Entity Voluntary Filers Entity Current Reporting Status Entity Filer Category Entity Public Float Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding Sale (Purchases) Of Marketable Securities And Investments Sales (purchases) of marketable securities and investments The net cash inflow (outflow) associated with the aggregate amount received and paid by the entity through the sale, maturity and purchase of marketable securities (trading, held-to-maturity, or available-for-sale) during the period. Statement [Line Items] Statement [Table] Shareholders' Equity Use of Estimates