Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Dec. 29, 2010
Income [Abstract]
Net income (Loss) attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company	$ 643	$ 619	$ 1,841	$ 1,579
Preferred dividends	0	(9)	0	(25)
Basic EPS	643	610	1,841	1,554
Convertible preference stock	0	9	0	25
Diluted EPS	$ 643	$ 619	$ 1,841	$ 1,579
Shares [Abstract]
Basic EPS (in shares)	486,700,000	486,000,000	489,900,000	489,900,000
Stock options and restricted stock (in shares)	3,800,000	3,800,000	3,500,000	4,700,000
Convertible preference stock (in shares)	0	19,700,000	0	20,100,000
Diluted EPS (in shares)	490,500,000	509,500,000	493,400,000	514,700,000
Per Share [Abstract]
Basic EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 1.32	$ 1.26	$ 3.76	$ 3.17
Diluted EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 1.31	$ 1.21	$ 3.73	$ 3.07
Average number of anti-dilutive shares (in shares)	1,202,090	4,248,553	422,263	49,904
Preference stock retired (in shares)					2,405,192
Common stock converted (in shares)					19,241,536