Name:	cl_AftertaxLossRelatedToRemeasurement
Namespace Prefix:	cl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Represents the charge for the premium paid to acquire U.S. dollar-denominated bonds at the parallel market rate in Venezuela, as a result of the change in reporting currency of CP Venezuela to the U.S. dollar.

No definition available.

Name:	cl_ChargeForPremiumPaidToAcquireUsDollarDenominatedBonds
Namespace Prefix:	cl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Represents the charge for the premium paid to acquire U.S. dollar-denominated cash at the parallel market rate in Venezuela, as a result of the change in reporting currency of CP Venezuela to the U.S. dollar.

No definition available.

Name:	cl_ChargeForPremiumPaidToAcquireUsDollarDenominatedCash
Namespace Prefix:	cl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Represents the benefit on U.S. dollar-denominated payables paid at the parallel market rate in Venezuela, as a result of the change in reporting currency of CP Venezuela to the U.S. dollar.

No definition available.

Name:	cl_GainForPremiumPaidOnUsDollarDenominatedPayables
Namespace Prefix:	cl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	cl_NotesToFinancialStatementsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	cl_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Official Venezuela exchange rate prior to the devaluation on January 8, 2010.

No definition available.

Name:	cl_OfficialCurrencyExchangeRateForVenezuelaPriorToDevaluation
Namespace Prefix:	cl_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The official currency exchange rate in Venezuela for essential goods abolished effective January 1, 2011.

No definition available.

Name:	cl_OfficialExchangeRateInVenezuelaForEssentialGoodsAbolished
Namespace Prefix:	cl_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The official currency exchange rate in Venezuela for essential goods beginning January 8, 2010.

No definition available.

Name:	cl_OfficialExchangeRateInVenezuelaForEssentialGoodsSubsequentToDevaluation
Namespace Prefix:	cl_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The official currency exchange rate in Venezuela for non-essential goods beginning January 8, 2010.

No definition available.

Name:	cl_OfficialExchangeRateInVenezuelaForNonEssentialGoodsSubsequentToDevaluation
Namespace Prefix:	cl_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Represents the one-time after tax gain related to the remeasurement of the local balance sheet and lower taxes on accrued but unpaid remittances from Venezuela, as a result of the Venezuela currency devaluation.

No definition available.

Name:	cl_OneTimeCurrencyDevaluationGainAfterTax
Namespace Prefix:	cl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Represents the one-time pre-tax gain recorded in Other (income) expense related to the remeasurement of the local balance sheet as a result of the Venezuela currency devaluation.

No definition available.

Name:	cl_OneTimeCurrencyDevaluationGainPretax
Namespace Prefix:	cl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

Percentage Of Consolidated Net sales Represented By Venezuela Subsidiary

No definition available.

Name:	cl_PercentageOfConsolidatedNetSalesRepresentedByVenezuelaSubsidiary
Namespace Prefix:	cl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

Venezuela hyperinflationary transition charge.

No definition available.

Name:	cl_VenezuelaHyperinflationaryTransitionCharge
Namespace Prefix:	cl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

Represents CP Venezuela's bolivar fuerte-denominated monetary net asset position as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	cl_VenezuelaSubsidiaryBolivarFuerteDenominatedMonetaryNetAssetPosition
Namespace Prefix:	cl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Total of debt securities categorized neither as held-to-maturity nor trading which are intended be sold or mature more than one year from the balance sheet date or operating cycle, if longer.

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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