Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments - Additional Information, Foreign Exchange Risk (Details)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018 country_and_territory
Fair Value Disclosures [Abstract]
Minimum number of countries and territories serving consumers (more than) (in countries and territories)	200

Minimum Number Of Countries And Territories Serving Consumers

No definition available.

Name:	cl_MinimumNumberOfCountriesAndTerritoriesServingConsumers
Namespace Prefix:	cl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration