Quarterly Financial Data (Unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended												12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010		Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Quarterly financial data (Unaudited) [Abstract]
Net sales	$ 4,172		$ 4,383		$ 4,185	$ 3,994	$ 3,978		$ 3,943	$ 3,814	$ 3,829		$ 16,734		$ 15,564		$ 15,327
Gross profit	2,393		2,462		2,404	2,331	2,350		2,344	2,242	2,268		9,590		9,204		9,008
Net Income including noncontrolling interests	625	[1]	676	[2]	646	607	651	[3]	645	630	387	[4]	2,554	[5]	2,313	[6]	2,397
Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company	590	[1]	643	[2]	622	576	624	[3]	619	603	357	[4]	2,431	[5]	2,203	[6]	2,291
Earnings per common share:
Basic EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 1.22	[1]	$ 1.32	[2]	$ 1.27	$ 1.17	$ 1.28	[3]	$ 1.26	$ 1.21	$ 0.71	[4]	$ 4.98	[5]	$ 4.45	[6]	$ 4.53
Diluted EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 1.21	[1]	$ 1.31	[2]	$ 1.26	$ 1.16	$ 1.24	[3]	$ 1.21	$ 1.17	$ 0.69	[4]	$ 4.94	[5]	$ 4.31	[6]	$ 4.37
Venezuela hyperinflationary transition charge that reduced net income including noncontrolling interests, Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company, and earnings per share											271		0		271		0
Aftertax charges for termination benefits							61								61
Gain after tax on sales of non core products			135				30						135		30
Benefit related to the reorganization of an overseas subsidiary							31								31
Costs associated with various Business Realignment and other cost-saving initiatives	19		128										147
Aftertax costs related to sale of land	4		5										9
Charge For French Competition Law Matter	$ 21												$ 21		$ 0		$ 0

[1] Net income including noncontrolling interests, Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2011 includes $19 of aftertax charges for the implementation of various business realignment and other cost-saving initiatives, $4 of aftertax charges related to the sale of land in Mexico and a $21 charge for a competition law matter in France related to a divested detergent business.

[2] Net income including noncontrolling interests, Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and earnings per share for the third quarter of 2011 include a $135 aftertax gain resulting from the sale of the Company's laundry detergent business in Colombia, $128 of aftertax charges for the implementation of various business realignment and other cost-saving initiatives and $5 of aftertax charges related to the sale of land in Mexico.

[3] Net income including noncontrolling interests, Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and earnings per share for the fourth quarter of 2010 include $61 of aftertax charges for termination benefits related to overhead reduction initiatives, a $30 aftertax gain on sales of non-core product lines and a $31 benefit related to the reorganization of an overseas subsidiary.

[4] Net income including noncontrolling interests, Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and earnings per share for the first quarter of 2010 include a $271 one-time charge related to the transition to hyperinflationary accounting in Venezuela.

[5] Net income including noncontrolling interests, Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and earnings per share for the full year of 2011 include a $135 aftertax gain resulting from the sale of the Company's laundry detergent business in Colombia, $147 of aftertax charges for the implementation of various business realignment and other cost-saving initiatives, $9 of aftertax charges related to the sale of land in Mexico and a $21 charge for a competition law matter in France related to a divested detergent business.

[6] Net income including noncontrolling interests, Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and earnings per share for the full year of 2010 include a $271 one-time charge related to the transition to hyperinflationary accounting in Venezuela, a $61 aftertax charge for termination benefits related to overhead reduction initiatives, a $30 aftertax gain on sales of non-core product lines and a $31 benefit related to the reorganization of an overseas subsidiary.