Contingencies (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015 country_and_territory
Loss Contingency [Abstract]
Minimum Number Of Countries And Territories Serving Consumers	200
Range of reasonably possible losses, minimum	$ 0
Range of reasonably possible losses, maximum	200
Brazilian internal revenue authority, matter 1	90cl_TaxAssessmentsWithInterest
Brazilian internal revenue authority, matter 2	55
European competition matters - Swiss competition law authority	6cl_FineImposedAndAppealedSwissAuthority
European competition matters - Spanish competition law authority	3
European competition matters - Italian competition law authority	3
Fine Imposed French Competition Authority	57
Fine Imposed French Competition Authority - As a result of Sanex Acquisition	25
European competition matters - Hill's France Subsidiary	$ 7cl_FineImposedFrenchLawAuthority

Fine Imposed and Appealed French Competition Authority - Home care and Personal Care

No definition available.

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

- Definition

Fine Imposed and Appealed French Competition Authority - Sanex

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Fine imposed in 2010 by the Italian competition law authority on the Company's Italian subsidiary for exchanging competitively sensitive information in the cosmetics sector. The Company is appealing the fine in the Italian courts.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fine imposed in 2010 by the Spanish competition law authority on the Company's Spanish subsidiary based on a finding that four suppliers of shower gel had entered into an agreement regarding product down-sizing. The Company is appealing the fine in the Spanish courts.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Fine imposed in 2009 by the Swiss competition law authority on the Company's GABA subsidiary for alleged violations of restrictions on parallel imports into Switzerland. The Company is appealing the fine in the Swiss courts.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

FineImposedFrenchLawAuthority

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Minimum Number Of Countries And Territories Serving Consumers

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	cl_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
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Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of tax assessment with estimated interest accrued as of the balance sheet date arising from income tax examinations related to an acquisition.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The amount of tax assessment with estimated penalties and interest accrued as of the balance sheet date arising from income tax examinations related to investments held by a foreign subsidiary.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	cl_
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyAbstract
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- Definition

The estimated maximum amount of possible loss from the contingency.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 4

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 450

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 9

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14557-108349

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The estimated minimum amount of possible loss from the contingency.

+ References

+ Details

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