Supplemental Income Statement Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Other (income) expense, net
Amortization of intangible assets					$ 28	$ 22	$ 22
Business realignment and other cost-saving initiatives					136	0	0
Pretax costs related to sale of land					13	0	0
Charge For French Competition Law Matter	21				21	0	0
Transaction costs					12	0	0
Venezuela hyperinflationary transition charge				271	0	271	0
Gain from remeasurement of Venezuelan balance sheet					0	(10)	0
Remeasurement of certain liabilities in Venezuela					0	0	27
Termination Benefits					0	86	0
Gain before tax on sales of non-core product lines		(207)	(50)		(207)	(50)	(5)
Legal and environmental matters					11	(3)	27
Asset impairments					0	5	16
Equity (income)					(6)	(5)	(5)
Other, net					(17)	(15)	29
Total Other (income) expense, net					(9)	301	111
Interest expense, net
Interest incurred					59	69	102
Interest capitalized					(1)	(4)	(14)
Interest income					(6)	(6)	(11)
Interest expense, net					52	59	77
Research and development					262	256	256
Advertising					1,734	1,656	1,534
Other comprehensive income:
Cumulative translation adjustment, Before Tax					(291)	166	351
Cumulative translation adjustments, Tax					(7)	(4)	(5)
Cumulative translation adjustment, Net of Tax					(305)	164	347
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Adjustment, before Tax					(164)	(220)	11
Retirement Plan and other retiree benefit adjustments, Tax					56	77	(3)
Retirement Plan and other retiree benefit adjustments, Net of Tax					(108)	(143)	8
Other, Before Tax					59	(46)	41
Other, Tax					(13)	8	(14)
Other, Net of Tax					46	(38)	27
Total Other comprehensive income, Before Tax					(396)	(100)	403
Total Other comprehensive income, Tax					36	81	(22)
Total Other comprehensive income, Net of Tax					(367)	(17)	382
Colgate-Palmolive Company [Member]
Other comprehensive income:
Cumulative translation adjustment, Net of Tax					(298)	162	346
Retirement Plan and other retiree benefit adjustments, Net of Tax					(108)	(143)	8
Other, Net of Tax					46	(38)	27
Total Other comprehensive income, Net of Tax					$ (360)	$ (19)	$ 381