Stockholders' Equity (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Equity [Abstract]

Components of Stockholders' Equity

				Stockholders’ Equity Attributable to
	Comprehensive Income			The Corporation			Noncontrolling Interests			Redeemable Securities of Subsidiaries
	(Millions of dollars)
Balance at December 31, 2008				$	3,878		$	383		$	1,032
Comprehensive Income:
Net income	$	1,994		1,884			54			56
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Unrealized translation	625			619			6			—
Employee postretirement benefits	(34		)	(32		)	(2		)	—
Other	3			3			—			—
Total Comprehensive Income	$	2,588
Stock-based awards				150			—			—
Income tax benefits on stock-based compensation				7			—			—
Shares repurchased				(7		)	—			—
Recognition of stock-based compensation				86			—			—
Dividends declared				(996		)	(45		)	(1		)
Additional investment in subsidiary and other				(186		)	(111		)	18
Return on redeemable preferred securities and noncontrolling interests				—			(1		)	(53		)
Balance at December 31, 2009				5,406			284			1,052
Comprehensive Income:
Net income	$	1,943		1,843			44			56
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Unrealized translation	334			326			7			1
Employee postretirement benefits	55			57			(2		)	—
Other	(16		)	(16		)	—			—
Total Comprehensive Income	$	2,316
Stock-based awards				133			—			—
Income tax benefits on stock-based compensation				2			—			—
Shares repurchased				(809		)	—			—
Recognition of stock-based compensation				52			—			—
Dividends declared				(1,085		)	(47		)	(1		)
Other				8			(1		)	(7		)
Return on redeemable preferred securities				—			—			(54		)
Balance at December 31, 2010				5,917			285			1,047
Comprehensive Income:
Net income	$	1,684		1,591			39			54
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Unrealized translation	(249		)	(236		)	(13		)	—
Employee postretirement benefits	(134		)	(133		)	(1		)	—
Other	(30		)	(31		)	1			—
Total Comprehensive Income	$	1,271
Stock-based awards				443			—			—
Income tax benefits on stock-based compensation				10			—			—
Shares repurchased				(1,247		)	—			—
Recognition of stock-based compensation				48			—			—
Dividends declared				(1,107		)	(29		)	(1		)
Other				(6		)	(1		)	4
Redemption of redeemable preferred securities				—			—			(500		)
Return on redeemable preferred securities and noncontrolling interests				—			(1		)	(57		)
Balance at December 31, 2011				$	5,249		$	280		$	547

Effect of a Change in Ownership Interest between the Corporation and a Noncontrolling Interest

	Year Ended December 31, 2009
	(Millions of dollars)
Net Income attributable to Kimberly-Clark	$	1,884
Decrease in Kimberly-Clark Corporation’s additional paid-in capital	(133		)
Change from net income attributable to Kimberly-Clark and transfers to noncontrolling interests	$	1,751

Change in Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)

	Year Ended December 31
	2011									2010									2009
	Pretax Amount			Tax Effect			Net Amount			Pretax Amount			Tax Effect			Net Amount			Pretax Amount			Tax Effect			Net Amount
	(Millions of dollars)
Unrealized translation	$	(243	)	$	7		$	(236	)	$	332		$	(6	)	$	326		$	619		$	—		$	619
Defined benefit pension plans:
Unrecognized net actuarial loss and transition amount
Funded status recognition	(396		)	144			(252		)	(58		)	23			(35		)	(111		)	19			(92		)
Amortization included in net periodic benefit cost	94			(33		)	61			99			(34		)	65			111			(40		)	71
Currency and other	(2		)	5			3			10			1			11			(36		)	7			(29		)
	(304		)	116			(188		)	51			(10		)	41			(36		)	(14		)	(50		)
Unrecognized prior service cost
Funded status recognition	74			(17		)	57			(1		)	—			(1		)	18			(6		)	12
Amortization included in net periodic benefit cost	3			(1		)	2			2			(1		)	1			3			(1		)	2
Currency and other	(4		)	1			(3		)	(1		)	1			—			—			(1		)	(1		)
	73			(17		)	56			—			—			—			21			(8		)	13
	(231		)	99			(132		)	51			(10		)	41			(15		)	(22		)	(37		)
Other postretirement benefit plans:
Unrecognized net actuarial loss and transition amount
Funded status recognition	(31		)	10			(21		)	10			8			18			9			(5		)	4
Amortization included in net periodic benefit cost	—			—			—			1			(4		)	(3		)	—			—			—
Currency and other	—			—			—			(1		)	1			—			(1		)	1			—
	(31		)	10			(21		)	10			5			15			8			(4		)	4
Unrecognized prior service cost
Funded status recognition	31			(11		)	20			—			—			—			—			—			—
Amortization included in net periodic benefit cost	1			(1		)	—			3			(1		)	2			2			(1		)	1
Currency and other	—			—			—			(1		)	—			(1		)	—			—			—
	32			(12		)	20			2			(1		)	1			2			(1		)	1
	1			(2		)	(1		)	12			4			16			10			(5		)	5
Cash flow hedges and other:
Recognition of effective portion of hedges	(81		)	34			(47		)	(37		)	14			(23		)	(29		)	8			(21		)
Amortization included in net income	39			(12		)	27			17			(5		)	12			45			(18		)	27
Currency and other	(13		)	2			(11		)	(8		)	3			(5		)	(3		)	—			(3		)
	(55		)	24			(31		)	(28		)	12			(16		)	13			(10		)	3
Other comprehensive income (loss)	$	(528	)	$	128		$	(400	)	$	367		$	—		$	367		$	627		$	(37	)	$	590
Purchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interests	—			—			—			—			—			—			(37		)	—			(37		)
Change in accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	$	(528	)	$	128		$	(400	)	$	367		$	—		$	367		$	590		$	(37	)	$	553

Accumulated Balances of Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Attributable to Corporation, Net of Applicable Income Tax

	December 31
	2011			2010
	(Millions of dollars)
Unrealized translation	$	(221	)	$	15
Unrecognized net actuarial loss and transition amount	(1,669		)	(1,460		)
Unrecognized prior service credit (cost)	60			(16		)
Deferred losses on cash flow hedges	(34		)	(3		)
Unrealized holding losses on securities	(2		)	(2		)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	$	(1,866	)	$	(1,466	)