Aftertax costs related to sale of land in Mexico

No definition available.

Name:	cl_AftertaxCostsRelatedToSaleOfLand
Namespace Prefix:	cl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aftertax Gain (loss) from sale or disposal of an organization or integrated set of activities (for example, but not limited to, a partnership or corporation) engaged in providing a product or service in a commercial, industrial, or professional environment.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cl_AftertaxGainonSaleofSouthPacificlaundrydetergentbusiness
Namespace Prefix:	cl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the first Installment received upon signing of the agreement related to the sale of Land in Mexico

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cl_FirstInstallmentReceivedFromSaleOfLandInMexico
Namespace Prefix:	cl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Gain (loss) from sale or disposal of an organization or integrated set of activities (for example, but not limited to, a partnership or corporation) engaged in providing a product or service in a commercial, industrial, or professional environment. Aftertax Impact of Gain (loss) from sale or disposal of an organization or integrated set of activities (for example, but not limited to, a partnership or corporation) engaged in providing a product or service in a commercial, industrial, or professional environment per Common Share, Diluted

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cl_ImpactofAftertaxGainonSaleofSouthPacificlaundrydetergentbusinesspercommonsharediluted
Namespace Prefix:	cl_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Pretax costs related to sale of land in Mexico

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cl_PretaxCostsRelatedToSaleOfLand
Namespace Prefix:	cl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the Second Installment received related to the sale of Land in Mexico

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	cl_SecondInstallmentReceivedFromSaleOfLandInMexico
Namespace Prefix:	cl_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GainLossOnSaleOfBusiness
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The cash inflow associated with the amount received from the sale of a portion of the company's business, for example a segment, division, branch or other business, during the period.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 12

-Subparagraph (b)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=56944662&loc=d3e3179-108585

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Investing Activities

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6516133

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=country_MX
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis=cl_EuropeSouthPacificMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeStatementBalanceSheetAndAdditionalDisclosuresByDisposalGroupsIncludingDiscontinuedOperationsAxis=cl_HomeCareMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Acquisitions and Divestitures - Divestitures (Details 1) $ / shares in Units, AUD in Millions, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended					9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares	Sep. 30, 2015 AUD	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of South Pacific laundry detergent business						$ 221	$ 0
Gain on sale of South Pacific laundry detergent business						187	0
MEXICO
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
First Installment received from the sale of land in Mexico					$ 24
Second Installment received from the sale of land in Mexico				$ 36
Pretax costs related to sale of land	$ 0		$ 1			0	4
Aftertax costs related to sale of land	0		$ 1			0	$ 3
Europe/South Pacific [Member] \| Home Care Member
Income Statement, Balance Sheet and Additional Disclosures by Disposal Groups, Including Discontinued Operations [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of South Pacific laundry detergent business	221	AUD 310
Gain on sale of South Pacific laundry detergent business	187					$ 187
Aftertax Gain on Sale of South Pacific laundry detergent business	$ 120
Impact of Aftertax Gain on Sale of South Pacific laundry detergent business per common share, diluted \| $ / shares	$ 0.13