Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended									12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Quarterly financial data (Unaudited) [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 4,015	$ 3,928	$ 3,866	$ 3,884	$ 3,811	$ 3,845	$ 3,886	$ 4,002		$ 15,693	$ 15,544	$ 15,454
Gross profit	2,414	2,316	2,308	2,287	2,253	2,269	2,301	2,408		9,325	9,231	9,280
Net income including noncontrolling interests	682	627	618	600	643	562	675	678		2,527	2,558	2,174
Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company	$ 643	$ 578	$ 586	$ 560	$ 606	$ 523	$ 637	$ 634		$ 2,367	$ 2,400	$ 2,024
Earnings (loss) per common share:
Basic EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 0.75	$ 0.67	$ 0.68	$ 0.65	$ 0.70	$ 0.60	$ 0.73	$ 0.72		$ 2.76	$ 2.76	$ 2.30
Diluted EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 0.75	$ 0.67	$ 0.68	$ 0.65	$ 0.70	$ 0.60	$ 0.73	$ 0.72		$ 2.75	$ 2.75	$ 2.28
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Charges										$ 57	$ 88	$ 152
Acquisition-related costs	$ 6	$ 14								20
Charge for U.S. tax reform						$ 80			$ 275	0	80	275
Value-added tax matter in Brazil							$ (15)				(15)
Gross Profit
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Acquisition-related costs										3
Global Growth and Efficiency Program
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Charges										132	161	333
Total Global Growth and Efficiency Program charges, aftertax	27	22		$ 22	$ 32	22	51	$ 20		102	125	246
Total Global Growth and Efficiency Program charges, including noncontrolling interest, aftertax			$ 31		34		48			102	124
Global Growth and Efficiency Program | Gross Profit
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Charges	1	$ 1	$ 3	$ 11	$ 12	$ 8	$ 5	$ 6		8	31	$ 75
BRAZIL
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Value-added tax matter in Brazil	(20)									(20)
SWITZERLAND
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Value-added tax matter in Brazil	$ (29)									$ (29)	$ (15)