Unaudited Quarterly Data (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2009
Net Sales	$ 5,176	$ 5,382	$ 5,259	$ 5,029	$ 5,075	$ 4,979	$ 4,857	$ 4,835	$ 20,846		$ 19,746		$ 19,115
Gross profit	1,544	1,588	1,557	1,463	1,645	1,614	1,644	1,647	6,152		6,550		6,420
Operating Profit	611	662	625	544	699	698	711	665	2,442	[1],[2]	2,773	[1],[2]	2,825	[1],[2]
Net income attributable Kimberly-Clark	$ 401	$ 432	$ 408	$ 350	$ 492	$ 469	$ 498	$ 384	$ 1,591		$ 1,843		$ 1,884
Per share basis, Basic	$ 1.02	$ 1.10	$ 1.04	$ 0.87	$ 1.20	$ 1.14	$ 1.20	$ 0.92	$ 4.02		$ 4.47		$ 4.53
Per share basis, Diluted	$ 1.01	$ 1.09	$ 1.03	$ 0.86	$ 1.20	$ 1.14	$ 1.20	$ 0.92	$ 3.99		$ 4.45		$ 4.52
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared	$ 0.70	$ 0.70	$ 0.70	$ 0.70	$ 0.66	$ 0.66	$ 0.66	$ 0.66
Market price per share, High	$ 74.06	$ 71.78	$ 68.49	$ 66.66	$ 67.23	$ 67.24	$ 63.49	$ 64.62
Market price per share, Low	$ 68.27	$ 61.00	$ 63.40	$ 62.33	$ 61.06	$ 59.62	$ 59.57	$ 58.25
Market price per share, Close	$ 73.56	$ 71.01	$ 66.56	$ 65.27	$ 63.04	$ 65.05	$ 60.63	$ 62.88

[1] Segment operating profit excludes other (income) and expense, net and income and expenses not associated with the business segment

[2] Geographic operating profit excludes Other (income) and expense, net and income and expenses not associated with geographic areas.