Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly financial data (Unaudited) [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 3,721	$ 3,867	$ 3,845	$ 3,762	$ 3,899	$ 3,999	$ 4,066	$ 4,070	$ 15,195	$ 16,034	$ 17,277
Gross profit	2,247	2,324	2,304	2,248	2,293	2,347	2,367	2,392	9,123	9,399	10,109
Net income including noncontrolling interests	628	746	638	574	(421)	770	616	583	2,586	1,548	2,339
Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company	$ 606	$ 702	$ 600	$ 533	$ (458)	$ 726	$ 574	$ 542	$ 2,441	$ 1,384	$ 2,180
Earnings (loss) per common share:
Basic EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 0.68	$ 0.79	$ 0.67	$ 0.60	$ (0.51)	$ 0.81	$ 0.63	$ 0.60	$ 2.74	$ 1.53	$ 2.38
Diluted EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 0.68	$ 0.78	$ 0.67	$ 0.59	$ (0.51)	$ 0.80	$ 0.63	$ 0.59	$ 2.72	$ 1.52	$ 2.36
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Total 2012 Restructuring Program charges, before tax									$ 105	$ 170	$ 195
Tax benefit from previously disclosed tax matters		$ 22	$ 13						35
Tax charge from previously disclosed tax matters							$ 15			15
Aftertax charges for previously disclosed litigation matters	$ 7	4			$ 14				11	14
Antidilutive securities excluded from computation of earnings per share (in shares)					6.6
CP Venezuela
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Aftertax charge for Venezuela deconsolidation					$ 1,058					1,058
Income Tax Benefit, Principally Related to Changes in Venezuela Foreign Currency Regime				$ 210
Foreign earnings repatriated									1,500
Tax Charge Resulting from Repatriation of Earnings of Foreign Subsidiaries				210
Aftertax remeasurement charge						$ 12	10			22	214
MEXICO
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Aftertax gain on sale of land in Mexico		63							63
Europe | Home Care
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Aftertax gain on sale of South Pacific laundry detergent business						120				120
2012 Restructuring Program
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Total 2012 Restructuring Program charges, before tax									228	254	286
Total 2012 Restructuring Program charges, including noncontrolling interest, aftertax			45					$ 69	169	185
Total 2012 Restructuring Program charges, aftertax	54	32	44	38	41	35	40	67	168	183	208
2012 Restructuring Program | Gross Profit
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Total 2012 Restructuring Program charges, before tax	$ 15	$ 11	$ 12	$ 8	$ 9	$ 3	$ 4	$ 4	$ 46	$ 20	$ 29