Receivables (net of allowances of $51 and $52, respectively) Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) Less: Accumulated depreciation Less: Accumulated depreciation Payment for acquisitions, net of cash acquired 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, $1 par value (2,000,000,000 shares authorized, 732,853,180 shares issued) Common stock Cost of sales Current 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 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 attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company Net (decrease) increase in Cash and cash equivalents Net increase (decrease) in Cash and cash equivalents Recently Issued Accounting Pronouncements Operating profit Operating profit Other non-current assets and liabilities Other current assets Other Other 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 Current 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 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 Net income Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests Accrued income taxes Depreciation and amortization Shareholders' Equity Shareholders' Equity [Abstract] Total shareholders' equity Total shareholders' equity Balance Balance Accounts payable Adjustments to reconcile net income including noncontrolling interests 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 Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract] Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments [Text Block] This item represents the complete disclosure regarding the fair value of financial instruments and the measurements of those instruments, and the complete disclosure regarding derivative and hedging activity. Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments Dividends paid The cash outflow from Net income including noncontrolling interests to Colgate-Palmolive Company shareholders and to Noncontrolling interests. Dividends paid Document Type Document Period End Date Amendment Flag Amendment Description 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. Shareholders' Equity Use of Estimates Document Information [Text Block] Entity [Text Block] Shareholders' Equity Before Unearned Compensation, Treasury Stock and Noncontrolling Interest Shareholders' Equity Before Unearned Compensation, Treasury Stock and Noncontrolling Interest Subtotal of shareholders' equity before unearned compensation, treasury stock and noncontrolling interest Commitments and contingent liabilities Common stock, shares issued Common stock, shares authorized Common stock, par value Gain before tax on sale of non-core product lines Principal Payments On Esop Debt Guaranteed By The Company Principal payments on Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) debt, guaranteed by the Company Principal payments on ESOP debt, guaranteed by the Company Interest paid Nature of Operations Summary of Significant Accounting Policies Acquisitions and Divestitures [Text Block] Description of a business combination (or series of individually immaterial business combinations) completed during the period. Disclosure also includes the facts and circumstances leading to the completed or expected disposal, the gain or loss recognized in the income statement, revenues and pretax profit or loss reported in discontinued operations, the segment in which the disposal group was reported, and the classification and carrying value of the assets and liabilities comprising the disposal group. Acquisitions and Divestitures Goodwill and Other Intangible Assets Long-Term Debt and Credit Facilities Capital Stock and Stock-Based Compensation Plans [Text Block] Capital Stock and Stock-Based Compensation Plans Disclosures related to accounts comprising shareholders' equity, as well as disclosure of compensation-related costs for share-based compensation which may include disclosure of policies, compensation plan details, allocation of stock compensation, incentive distributions, share-based arrangements to obtain goods and services, deferred compensation arrangements, employee stock ownership plan details and employee stock purchase plan details. Employee Stock Ownership Plan Income Taxes Supplemental Income Statement Information [Text Block] This element is used to disclose supplemental income statement information for the periods disclosed. Supplemental Income Statement Information Supplemental Balance Sheet Information [Text Block] Supplemental Balance Sheet Information This element is used to disclose supplemental balance sheet information for the periods disclosed. Quarterly Financial Data Subsequent Events Sale of property and non-core product lines The cash inflow from the sale of long-lived, physical assets that are used in the normal conduct of business to produce goods and services and not intended for resale, including the cash inflow from the sale of other tangible or intangible assets used to produce goods or deliver services not otherwise defined in the taxonomy. Sale of property and non-core product lines Schedule to Financial Statements [Abstract] SCHEDULE II - VALUATION AND QUALIFYING ACCOUNTS Income Before Income Taxes Income before income taxes Income before income taxes Sum of operating profit and nonoperating income (expense) before income taxes, extraordinary items, cumulative effects of changes in accounting principles, and noncontrolling interest. Document Fiscal Year Focus Document Fiscal Period Focus Venezuela [Text Block] Disclosure of transition to hyperinflationary accounting and subsequent currency devaluation in Venezuela. Venezuela Venezuela Hyperinflationary Transition Charge Venezuela hyperinflationary transition charge. Venezuela hyperinflationary transition charge