Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Earnings Per Share Reconciliation [Abstract]
Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company	$ 561	$ 627	$ 1,021	$ 1,220
Basic EPS	561	627	1,021	1,220
Diluted EPS	$ 561	$ 627	$ 1,021	$ 1,220
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted [Abstract]
Basic EPS (in shares)	933,100,000	954,600,000	934,800,000	957,400,000
Stock options and restricted stock (in shares)	9,200,000	8,100,000	8,800,000	7,800,000
Diluted EPS (in shares)	942,300,000	962,700,000	943,600,000	965,200,000
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ 0.60	$ 0.66	$ 1.09	$ 1.27
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ 0.60	$ 0.65	$ 1.08	$ 1.26
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	30,428	811,560	46,303	4,140,404