Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share Reconciliation [Abstract]
Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company, Basic	$ 542	$ 388
Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company, Diluted	$ 542	$ 388
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted [Abstract]
Basic EPS (in shares)	907,700,000	919,500,000
Stock options and restricted stock (in shares)	8,600,000	9,100,000
Diluted EPS (in shares)	916,300,000	928,600,000
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract]
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$ 0.60us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ 0.42us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$ 0.59us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ 0.42us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	1,566,993	3,374,995

Securities (including those issuable pursuant to contingent stock agreements) that could potentially dilute basic earnings per share (EPS) or earnings per unit (EPU) in the future that were not included in the computation of diluted EPS or EPU because to do so would increase EPS or EPU amounts or decrease loss per share or unit amounts for the period presented.

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The amount of net income (loss) for the period per each share of common stock or unit outstanding during the reporting period.

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The amount of net income (loss) for the period available to each share of common stock or common unit outstanding during the reporting period and to each share or unit that would have been outstanding assuming the issuance of common shares or units for all dilutive potential common shares or units outstanding during the reporting period.

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Additional shares included in the calculation of diluted EPS as a result of the potentially dilutive effect of share based payment arrangements using the treasury stock method.

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Net income after adjustments for dividends on preferred stock (declared in the period) and/or cumulative preferred stock (accumulated for the period).

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