Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Quarterly financial data (Unaudited) [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 3,811	$ 3,845	$ 3,886	$ 4,002	$ 3,892	$ 3,974	$ 3,826	$ 3,762	$ 15,544	$ 15,454	$ 15,195
Gross profit	2,253	2,269	2,301	2,408	2,328	2,383	2,300	2,269	9,231	9,280	9,123
Net income including noncontrolling interests	643	562	675	678	353	650	560	611	2,558	2,174	2,586
Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company	$ 606	$ 523	$ 637	$ 634	$ 323	$ 607	$ 524	$ 570	$ 2,400	$ 2,024	$ 2,441
Earnings (loss) per common share:
Basic EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 0.70	$ 0.60	$ 0.73	$ 0.72	$ 0.37	$ 0.69	$ 0.59	$ 0.64	$ 2.76	$ 2.30	$ 2.74
Diluted EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 0.70	$ 0.60	$ 0.73	$ 0.72	$ 0.37	$ 0.68	$ 0.59	$ 0.64	$ 2.75	$ 2.28	$ 2.72
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Total Global Growth and Efficiency Program charges, pretax									$ 88	$ 152	$ 93
Charge for U.S. tax reform		$ 80			$ 275				80	275	0
Benefit from a foreign tax matter			$ 15						(15)
Global Growth and Efficiency Program
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Total Global Growth and Efficiency Program charges, pretax									161	333	228
Total Global Growth and Efficiency Program charges, including noncontrolling interest, aftertax	$ 34		48						124
Total Global Growth and Efficiency Program charges, aftertax	32	22	51	$ 20	61	$ 39	$ 115	$ 31	125	246	168
Global Growth and Efficiency Program | Gross Profit
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Total Global Growth and Efficiency Program charges, pretax	$ 12	$ 8	$ 5	$ 6	$ 24	$ 16	$ 21	$ 14	$ 31	$ 75	$ 46