Name:	cl_CommonStockConverted
Namespace Prefix:	cl_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The stated interest rate on the loan made by a third-party lender directly to the ESOP.

No definition available.

Name:	cl_EmployeeStockOwnershipPlanESOPDebtStructureDirectLoanInterestRate
Namespace Prefix:	cl_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

The amount of advances from the Company to the ESOP which remain outstanding as of the balance sheet date.

No definition available.

Name:	cl_EmployeeStockOwnershipPlanESOPDebtStructureEmployerLoanAmount
Namespace Prefix:	cl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DisclosureOfCompensationRelatedCostsSharebasedPaymentsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

This item represents the amount of cash contributions during the period made by the entity to the Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP).

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 40

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6418621&loc=d3e17540-113929

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeStockOwnershipPlanESOPCashContributionsToESOP
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The amount of plan compensation cost recognized during the period.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 40

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6418621&loc=d3e17540-113929

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeStockOwnershipPlanESOPCompensationExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The amount reported as a liability as of the balance sheet date by the entity (the employer) of the loan made by a third-party lender directly to the ESOP.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Direct Loan

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6510849

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 40

-Section 25

-Paragraph 9

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6418455&loc=d3e16545-113920

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeStockOwnershipPlanESOPDebtStructureDirectLoanAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

Dividends paid on stock held by an employee stock ownership plan.

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeStockOwnershipPlanESOPDividendsPaidToESOP
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

The shares or units in an ESOP trust that have been assigned to individual participant accounts based on a known formula. IRS rules require allocations to be nondiscriminatory generally based on compensation, length of service, or a combination of both. For any particular participant such shares or units may be vested, unvested, or partially vested.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 40

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6418621&loc=d3e17540-113929

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeStockOwnershipPlanESOPNumberOfAllocatedShares
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Shares contributed to the ESOP that have not yet been released, committed to be released, or allocated to participant accounts. Suspense shares generally collateralize ESOP debt.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 40

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6418621&loc=d3e17540-113929

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeStockOwnershipPlanESOPNumberOfSuspenseShares
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Sum of the allocated, committed-to-be-released and suspense shares of the entity held by the plan.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 40

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (d)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6418621&loc=d3e17540-113929

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeStockOwnershipPlanESOPSharesInESOP
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

Total number of nonredeemable preferred shares (or preferred stock redeemable solely at the option of the issuer) issued to shareholders (includes related preferred shares that were issued, repurchased, and remain in the treasury). May be all or portion of the number of preferred shares authorized. Excludes preferred shares that are classified as debt.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.28)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 29

-Article 5