CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2016 Dividend	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2015 Dividend	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($) $ / shares
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net sales		$ 3,845		$ 4,066		$ 7,607	$ 8,136
Cost of sales		1,541		1,699		3,055	3,377
Gross profit		2,304		2,367		4,552	4,759
Selling, general and administrative expenses		1,320		1,381		2,674	2,831
Other (income) expense, net		40		54		67	136
Operating profit		944		932		1,811	1,792
Interest (income) expense, net		25		6		53	14
Income before income taxes		919		926		1,758	1,778
Provision for income taxes		281		310		546	579
Net income including noncontrolling interests		638		616		1,212	1,199
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests		38		42		79	83
Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company		$ 600		$ 574		$ 1,133	$ 1,116
Earnings per common share, basic (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		$ 0.67		$ 0.63		$ 1.27	$ 1.23
Earnings per common share, diluted (in dollars per share) | $ / shares		0.67		0.63		1.26	1.22
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share) | $ / shares	[1]	$ 0.39		$ 0.38		$ 1.16	$ 1.12
Number of dividends declared per quarter (in dividends) | Dividend			2		2

[1] Two dividends were declared in the first quarter of 2016 and 2015.