Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended														12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 29, 2010
Income [Abstract]
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	$ 598	[1]	$ 654	[2]	$ 627	[3]	$ 593	[4]	$ 590	[5]	$ 643	[6]	$ 622	$ 576	$ 2,472	[7]	$ 2,431	[8]	$ 2,203
Preferred dividends															0		0		34
Basic EPS															2,472		2,431		2,169
Convertible preference stock															0		0		34
Diluted EPS															$ 2,472		$ 2,431		$ 2,203
Shares [Abstract]
Basic EPS (in shares)															476,100,000		488,300,000		487,800,000
Stock options and restricted stock (in shares)															4,000,000		3,700,000		3,300,000
Convertible preference stock (in shares)															0		0		19,800,000
Diluted EPS (in shares)															480,100,000		492,000,000		510,900,000
Per Share [Abstract]
Basic EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 1.27	[1]	$ 1.38	[2]	$ 1.31	[3]	$ 1.24	[4]	$ 1.22	[5]	$ 1.32	[6]	$ 1.27	$ 1.17	$ 5.19	[7]	$ 4.98	[8]	$ 4.45
Diluted EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 1.26	[1]	$ 1.36	[2]	$ 1.30	[3]	$ 1.23	[4]	$ 1.21	[5]	$ 1.31	[6]	$ 1.26	$ 1.16	$ 5.15	[7]	$ 4.94	[8]	$ 4.31
Average number of anti-dilutive shares (in shares)															1,752,304		1,531,768		67,565
Preference stock retired (in shares)																				2,405,192
Common stock converted (in shares)																				19,241,536

[1] Net income including noncontrolling interests, Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and earnings per common share for the fourth quarter of 2012 include $70 of aftertax charges related to the 2012 Restructuring Program and $3 of aftertax costs related to the sale of land in Mexico.

[2] Net income including noncontrolling interests, Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and earnings per common share for the third quarter of 2012 include $5 of aftertax costs related to the sale of land in Mexico and $2 of aftertax costs associated with the business realignment and other cost-saving initiatives.

[3] Net income including noncontrolling interests, Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and earnings per common share for the second quarter of 2012 include $5 of aftertax costs related to the sale of land in Mexico and $9 of aftertax costs associated with the business realignment and other cost-saving initiatives.

[4] Net income including noncontrolling interests, Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and earnings per common share for the first quarter of 2012 include $5 of aftertax costs related to the sale of land in Mexico and $3 of aftertax costs associated with the business realignment and other cost-saving initiatives.

[5] Net income including noncontrolling interests, Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and earnings per common share for the fourth quarter of 2011 includes $19 of aftertax costs associated with the business realignment and other cost-saving initiatives, $4 of aftertax costs 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 common share for the third quarter of 2011 include a $135 aftertax gain resulting from the sale of the non-core laundry detergent business in Colombia, $128 of aftertax costs associated with the business realignment and other cost-saving initiatives and $5 of aftertax costs related to the sale of land in Mexico.

[7] Net income including noncontrolling interests, Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and earnings per common share for the full year of 2012 include $70 of aftertax charges related to the 2012 Restructuring Program, $18 of aftertax costs related to the sale of land in Mexico and $14 of aftertax costs associated with the business realignment and other cost-saving initiatives.

[8] Net income including noncontrolling interests, Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company and earnings per common share for the full year of 2011 include a $135 aftertax gain resulting from the sale of the non-core laundry detergent business in Colombia, $147 of aftertax costs associated with the business realignment and other cost-saving initiatives, $9 of aftertax costs 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.