Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Earnings Per Share Reconciliation [Abstract]
Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company	$ 656	$ 654	$ 1,677	$ 1,874
Basic EPS	656	654	1,677	1,874
Diluted EPS	$ 656	$ 654	$ 1,677	$ 1,874
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted [Abstract]
Basic EPS (in shares)	928,100,000	949,800,000	932,500,000	954,800,000
Stock options and restricted stock (in shares)	8,800,000	8,600,000	8,900,000	8,100,000
Diluted EPS (in shares)	936,900,000	958,400,000	941,400,000	962,900,000
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ 0.71	$ 0.69	$ 1.80	$ 1.96
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ 0.70	$ 0.68	$ 1.78	$ 1.95
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	1,956,750	1,214,526	703,219	1,259,888