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[Member] Russia and Belarus Adjustments to reconcile net income including noncontrolling interests to net cash provided by operations: Adjustment to Reconcile Net Income to Cash Provided by (Used in) Operating Activity [Abstract] Total Inventories, net Inventory, Net, Including Noncurrent Inventory, Net, Including Noncurrent Financing Activities Cash Provided by (Used in) Financing Activity, Including Discontinued Operation [Abstract]  Property, plant and equipment, net Property, Plant, and Equipment, after Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization Net sales Net sales Revenue from Contract with Customer, Excluding Assessed Tax Interest cost Defined Benefit Plan, Interest Cost Derivative assets Derivative Asset Inventories Inventory Disclosure [Text Block] Shares issued for stock options Stock Issued During Period, Value, Stock Options Exercised Equity Awards Adjustments, Footnote Equity Awards Adjustments, Footnote [Text Block] Underlying Securities Award Underlying 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[Member] Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share) Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Declared Entity File Number Entity File Number Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Adopted Rule 10b5-1 Arrangement Adopted [Flag] Service cost Defined Benefit Plan, Service Cost Short-term borrowing (repayment) less than 90 days, net Proceeds from (Repayments of) Short-Term Debt Recovery of Erroneously Awarded Compensation Disclosure [Line Items] Restructuring costs Restructuring Costs Common stock issued (in shares) Common Stock, Shares, Issued Measure: Measure [Axis] Entity Information [Line Items] Entity Information [Line Items] Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Comprehensive Income (Loss) Note [Text Block] Other (income) expense, net Other Cost and Expense, Operating Equity Components [Axis] Equity Components [Axis] Product and Service [Domain] Product and Service [Domain] Entity Interactive Data Current Entity Interactive Data Current Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Deferred income taxes Deferred Income Tax Liabilities, Net Compensation Actually Paid vs. Other Measure Compensation Actually Paid vs. Other Measure [Text Block] Entity Small Business Entity Small Business Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] Reclassification Adjustment out of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Line Items] Total Comprehensive income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent Termination Date Trading Arrangement Termination Date Useful life Intangible Asset, Finite-Lived, Acquired, Weighted-Average Amortization Period Compensation Actually Paid vs. Total Shareholder Return Compensation Actually Paid vs. Total Shareholder Return [Text Block] Retirement plans and other retiree benefit adjustments Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, 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Code Entity Registrant Name Entity Registrant Name Hedging Instruments Net Investment Hedging [Member] Income before income taxes Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations before Income Taxes, Noncontrolling Interest Insider Trading Policies and Procedures Not Adopted Insider Trading Policies and Procedures Not Adopted [Text Block] Cost Property, Plant, and Equipment, before Accumulated Depreciation, Depletion, and Amortization Changed Peer Group, Footnote Changed Peer Group, Footnote [Text Block] Forgone Recovery due to Expense of Enforcement, Amount Forgone Recovery due to Expense of Enforcement, Amount Executive Category: Executive Category [Axis] Tax amounts Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Tax Liabilities and Shareholders’ Equity Liabilities and Equity [Abstract] Supplier finance program, obligation Supplier Finance Program, Obligation Inventories Current Inventories, net Inventory, Net All Award Types Award Type [Domain] Non-PEO NEO Average Compensation Actually Paid Amount 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Concentration Risk, Percentage Concentration Risk Benchmark [Axis] Concentration Risk Benchmark [Axis] Equity Awards Adjustments Equity Awards Adjustments [Member] Hedging Relationship [Domain] Hedging Relationship [Domain] Personal Care Personal Care [Member] Personal Care products include bar and liquid hand soaps, shower gels, shampoos, conditioners, deodorants and antiperspirants and other similar items. 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[Member] 0.300% Notes Due 2029 Foreign exchange Restructuring Reserve, Foreign Currency Translation Gain (Loss) Concentration Risk Benchmark [Domain] Concentration Risk Benchmark [Domain] Company Selected Measure Amount Company Selected Measure Amount Depreciation and amortization Depreciation, Depletion and Amortization Retirement Plan Sponsor Location [Domain] Retirement Plan Sponsor Location [Domain] Net income including noncontrolling interests Net income including noncontrolling interests Net income Net Income (Loss), Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest Current Assets Assets, Current [Abstract] Derivative liabilities Derivative Liability Loss contingency, number of cases pending in lower federal count Loss Contingency, Number of Cases Pending in Lower Federal Court Loss Contingency, Number of Cases Pending in Lower Federal Court Non-PEO NEO Non-PEO NEO [Member] Entity Address, Address Line One Entity Address, Address Line One North America North America [Member] Provision for income taxes Income Tax Expense (Benefit) Latin America Latin America [Member] Fair Value Hedging Fair Value Hedging [Member] Award Timing Method Award Timing Method [Text Block] Net increase (decrease) in Cash and cash equivalents Cash, Cash Equivalent, Restricted Cash, and Restricted Cash Equivalent, Period Increase (Decrease), Including Exchange Rate Effect and Discontinued Operation Forgone Recovery, Explanation of Impracticability Forgone Recovery, Explanation of Impracticability [Text Block] Amortization of actuarial loss (gain) Defined Benefit Plan, Amortization of Gain (Loss) Recent Accounting Pronouncements Accounting Standards Update and Change in Accounting Principle [Text Block] Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent Erroneous Compensation Analysis Erroneous Compensation Analysis [Text Block] Statement [Table] Statement [Table] Restatement Determination Date: Restatement Determination Date [Axis] Proceeds from exercise of stock options Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised Talcum Powder Matters Talcum Powder Matters [Member] Talcum Powder Matters Derivative, term of contract Derivative, Contract Term Interest income Investment Income, Interest Accounts payable and other working capital Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Other Working Capital Increase (Decrease) in Accounts Payable and Other Working Capital Receivables Increase (Decrease) in Receivables Loss contingency, new claims filed, number (in cases) Loss Contingency, New Claims Filed, Number Total gain (loss) on net investment hedges Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net Investment Hedge, Gain (Loss), before Reclassification and Tax Schedule of Cumulative Pretax Restructuring Charges Schedule of Cumulative Pretax Restructuring Charges [Table Text Block] Schedule of Cumulative Pretax Restructuring Charges Fair value hedge liabilities Fair Value Hedge Liabilities Pension Benefits Adjustments, Footnote Pension Benefits Adjustments, Footnote [Text Block]