CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2017 Dividend	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2016 Dividend	Jun. 30, 2017 USD ($) $ / shares	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales		$ 3,826		$ 3,845		$ 7,588	$ 7,607
Cost of sales		1,526		1,541		3,019	3,055
Gross profit		2,300		2,304		4,569	4,552
Selling, general and administrative expenses		1,333		1,320		2,695	2,674
Other (income) expense, net		114		40		136	67
Operating profit		853		944		1,738	1,811
Interest (income) expense, net		24		25		47	53
Income before income taxes		829		919		1,691	1,758
Provision for income taxes		269		281		520	546
Net income including noncontrolling interests		560		638		1,171	1,212
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		36		38		77	79
Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company		$ 524		$ 600		$ 1,094	$ 1,133
Earnings per common share, basic (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 0.59		$ 0.67		$ 1.24	$ 1.27
Earnings per common share, diluted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		0.59		0.67		1.23	1.26
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	[1]	$ 0.40		$ 0.39		$ 1.19	$ 1.16
Number of dividends declared per quarter (in dividends) | Dividend			2		2

[1] Two dividends were declared in the first quarter of 2017 and 2016.