CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2016 Dividend	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2015 Dividend	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales		$ 3,867		$ 3,999		$ 11,474	$ 12,135
Cost of sales		1,543		1,652		4,598	5,029
Gross profit		2,324		2,347		6,876	7,106
Selling, general and administrative expenses		1,322		1,347		3,996	4,178
Other (income) expense, net		(69)		(136)		(2)	0
Operating profit		1,071		1,136		2,882	2,928
Interest (income) expense, net		25		5		78	19
Income before income taxes		1,046		1,131		2,804	2,909
Provision for income taxes		300		361		846	940
Net income including noncontrolling interests		746		770		1,958	1,969
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		44		44		123	127
Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company		$ 702		$ 726		$ 1,835	$ 1,842
Earnings per common share, basic (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 0.79		$ 0.81		$ 2.05	$ 2.04
Earnings per common share, diluted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		0.78		0.80		2.04	2.02
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	[1]	$ 0.39		$ 0.38		$ 1.55	$ 1.50
Number of dividends declared per quarter (in dividends) | Dividend			2		2

[1] Two dividends were declared in the first quarter of 2016 and 2015.