Colgate-Palmolive (CL) 10-Q 25 Apr 14 2014 Q1 Quarterly report Financial data

Document_and_Entity_Informatio

Document and Entity Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Entity Information [Line Items]	'
Entity Registrant Name	'COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO
Entity Central Index Key	'0000021665
Current Fiscal Year End Date	'--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	'Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	'No
Entity Current Reporting Status	'Yes
Entity Filer Category	'Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding	915,386,382
Document Fiscal Year Focus	'2014
Document Fiscal Period Focus	'Q1
Document Type	'10-Q
Amendment Flag	'false
Trading Symbol	'CL
Document Period End Date	31-Mar-14

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014		Mar. 31, 2013
Net sales	$4,325		$4,315
Cost of sales	1,801		1,800
Gross profit	2,524		2,515
Selling, general and administrative expenses	1,544		1,536
Other (income) expense, net	346		237
Operating profit	634		742
Interest (income) expense, net	7		-3
Income before income taxes	627		745
Provision for income taxes	195		239
Net income including noncontrolling interests	432		506
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	44		46
Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company	$388		$460
Earnings per common share, basic (in dollars per share)	$0.42		$0.49
Earnings per common share, diluted (in dollars per share)	$0.42		$0.48
Dividends declared per common share (in dollars per share)	$0.70	[1]	$0.65	[1]
[1]	Two dividends were declared in each period.

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME1

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Net income including noncontrolling interests	$432	$506
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:	'	'
Cumulative translation adjustments	-44	-55
Retirement Plan and other retiree benefit adjustments	13	20
Gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities	-56	-4
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	0	2
Total Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	-87	-37
Total Comprehensive income including noncontrolling interests	345	469
Less: Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	44	46
Less: Cumulative translation adjustments attributable to noncontrolling interests	-1	0
Total Comprehensive Income attributable to noncontrolling interests	43	46
Total Comprehensive income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company	$302	$423

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Current Assets	'	'
Cash and cash equivalents	$1,795	$962
Receivables (net of allowances of $64 and $67, respectively)	1,670	1,636
Inventories	1,478	1,425
Other current assets	734	799
Total current assets	5,677	4,822
Property, plant and equipment:	'	'
Cost	8,363	8,330
Less: Accumulated depreciation	-4,326	-4,247
Property, plant and equipment, net	4,037	4,083
Goodwill, net	2,485	2,474
Other intangible assets, net	1,500	1,496
Deferred income taxes	75	77
Other assets	658	924
Total assets	14,432	13,876
Current Liabilities	'	'
Notes and loans payable	24	13
Current portion of long-term debt	896	895
Accounts payable	1,264	1,343
Accrued income taxes	253	239
Other accruals	2,265	1,980
Total current liabilities	4,702	4,470
Long-term debt	5,739	4,749
Deferred income taxes	393	444
Other liabilities	1,698	1,677
Total liabilities	12,532	11,340
Shareholders' Equity	'	'
Common stock	1,466	1,466
Additional paid-in capital	1,010	1,004
Retained earnings	17,698	17,952
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)	-2,537	-2,451
Unearned compensation	-26	-33
Treasury stock, at cost	-15,981	-15,633
Total Colgate-Palmolive Company shareholders' equity	1,630	2,305
Noncontrolling interests	270	231
Total shareholders' equity	1,900	2,536
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$14,432	$13,876

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_BALANCE1

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Unaudited) (Parentheticals) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Statement of Financial Position [Abstract]	'	'
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$64	$67

CONDENSED_CONSOLIDATED_STATEME2

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (Unaudited) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Operating Activities	'	'
Net income including noncontrolling interests	$432	$506
Adjustments to reconcile net income including noncontrolling interests to net cash provided by operations:	'	'
Depreciation and amortization	108	110
Restructuring and termination benefits, net of cash	45	30
Pretax Venezuela Remeasurement Charge	266	172
Stock-based compensation expense	34	32
Deferred income taxes	-21	-17
Cash effects of changes in:	'	'
Receivables	-77	-175
Inventories	-67	-15
Accounts payable and other accruals	100	112
Other non-current assets and liabilities	0	22
Net cash provided by operations	820	777
Investing Activities	'	'
Capital expenditures	-168	-94
Purchases of marketable securities and investments	-151	-199
Proceeds from sale of marketable securities and investments	74	54
Payments for acquisitions, net of cash acquired	-25	0
Other	21	7
Net cash used in investing activities	-249	-232
Financing Activities	'	'
Principal payments on debt	-1,938	-1,436
Proceeds from issuance of debt	2,960	1,553
Dividends paid	-316	-290
Purchases of treasury shares	-453	-385
Proceeds from exercise of stock options and excess tax benefits	50	96
Net cash used in financing activities	303	-462
Effect of exchange rate changes on Cash and cash equivalents	-41	-35
Net increase (decrease) in Cash and cash equivalents	833	48
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period	962	884
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period	1,795	932
Supplemental Cash Flow Information	'	'
Income taxes paid	$171	$182

Basis_of_Presentation

Basis of Presentation	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Basis of Presentation	'
	Basis of Presentation
	The Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements reflect all normal recurring adjustments which, in management’s opinion, are necessary for a fair statement of the results for interim periods. Results of operations for interim periods may not be representative of results to be expected for a full year. Certain prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation.
	For a complete set of financial statement notes, including the significant accounting policies of Colgate-Palmolive Company (together with its subsidiaries, the “Company” or “Colgate”), refer to the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

Use_of_Estimates

Use of Estimates	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Use of Estimates	'
	Use of Estimates
	Provisions for certain expenses, including income taxes, media advertising and consumer promotion, are based on full year assumptions and are included in the accompanying Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements in proportion with estimated annual tax rates, the passage of time or estimated annual sales.

Recent_Accounting_Pronouncemen

Recent Accounting Pronouncements	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Abstract]	'
New Accounting Pronouncements and Changes in Accounting Principles [Text Block]	'
	Recent Accounting Pronouncements
	On April 10, 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (“FASB”) issued ASU No. 2014-08 “Reporting Discontinued Operations and Disclosures of Disposals of Components of an Entity.” ASU No. 2014-08 changes the criteria for reporting discontinued operations and modifies related disclosure requirements. The new guidance is effective on a prospective basis for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2014, and interim periods within annual periods beginning on or after December 15, 2015. This new guidance is not expected to have a material impact on the Company’s Consolidated Financial Statements.

Acquisitions_and_Divestitures

Acquisitions and Divestitures	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Acquisitions and Divestitures	'
	Acquisitions and Divestitures
	Sale of Land in Mexico
	On September 13, 2011, the Company’s Mexican subsidiary entered into an agreement to sell to the United States of America the Mexico City site on which its commercial operations, technology center and soap production facility are located. The sale price is payable in three installments, with the final installment due upon the transfer of the property, which is expected to occur in 2014. During the third quarter of 2011, the Company received the first installment of $24 upon signing the agreement. During the third quarter of 2012, the Company received the second installment of $36. The Company is reinvesting these payments to relocate its soap production to a new state-of-the-art facility at its Mission Hills, Mexico site, to relocate its commercial and technology operations within Mexico City and to prepare the existing site for transfer. Exit costs incurred during the project primarily relate to staff leaving indemnities, accelerated depreciation and demolition to make the site building-ready. During the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company recorded $1 and $5 of pretax costs ($1 and $3 of aftertax costs), respectively, related to the sale.

Restructuring_and_Related_Impl

Restructuring and Related Implementation Charges	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]	'
Restructuring and Related Implementation Charges	'
	Restructuring and Related Implementation Charges
	In the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company commenced a four-year Global Growth and Efficiency Program (the “2012 Restructuring Program”) for sustained growth. The program’s initiatives are expected to help Colgate ensure continued solid worldwide growth in unit volume, organic sales and earnings per share and enhance its global leadership positions in its core businesses.
	Implementation of the 2012 Restructuring Program is projected to result in cumulative pretax charges, once all phases are approved and implemented, totaling between $1,100 and $1,250 ($775 and $875 aftertax), which are currently estimated to be comprised of the following categories: Employee-Related Costs, including severance, pension and other termination benefits (50%); asset-related costs, primarily Incremental Depreciation and Asset Impairments (15%); and Other charges, which include contract termination costs, consisting primarily of implementation-related charges resulting directly from exit activities (20%) and the implementation of new strategies (15%). Anticipated pretax charges for 2014 are expected to amount to approximately $275 to $325 ($200 to $230 aftertax). Over the course of the 2012 Restructuring Program, it is estimated that approximately 75% of the charges will result in cash expenditures.
	It is expected that the cumulative pretax charges, once all projects are approved and implemented, will relate to initiatives undertaken in North America (15%), Europe/South Pacific (20%), Latin America (5%), Asia (5%), Africa/Eurasia (5%), Hill’s Pet Nutrition (10%) and Corporate (40%), which includes substantially all of the costs related to the implementation of new strategies, noted above, on a global basis. It is expected that by the end of 2016, the 2012 Restructuring Program will reduce the Company’s global employee workforce by approximately 6% from the 2012 level of approximately 38,000.
	For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, restructuring and implementation-related charges are reflected in the income statement as follows:
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014				2013
	Cost of sales	$	10			$	8
	Selling, general and administrative expenses	17				8
	Other (income) expense, net	75				50
	Total 2012 Restructuring Program charges, pretax	$	102			$	66
	Total 2012 Restructuring Program charges, aftertax	$	73			$	52
	Restructuring and related implementation charges in the preceding table are recorded in the Corporate segment as these initiatives are predominantly centrally directed and controlled and are not included in internal measures of segment operating performance. Total charges for the 2012 Restructuring Program for the three months ended March 31, 2014 relate to initiatives undertaken in North America (9%), Europe/South Pacific (21%), Latin America (4%), Africa/Eurasia (2%), Hill’s Pet Nutrition (8%) and Corporate (56%). Total charges for the 2012 Restructuring Program for the three months ended March 31, 2013 relate to initiatives undertaken in Europe/South Pacific (31%), Latin America (15%), Africa/Eurasia (6%), Hill’s Pet Nutrition (3%) and Corporate (45%). Total program-to-date accumulated charges for the 2012 Restructuring Program relate to initiatives undertaken in North America (10%), Europe/South Pacific (31%), Latin America (3%), Africa/Eurasia (5%), Hill’s Pet Nutrition (7%) and Corporate (44%).
	Since the inception of the 2012 Restructuring Program in the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company has incurred pretax cumulative charges of $562 ($421 aftertax) in connection with the implementation of various projects as follows:
		Cumulative Charges
		as of March 31, 2014
	Employee-Related Costs	$	242
	Incremental Depreciation	32
	Asset Impairments	1
	Other	287
	Total	$	562
	The majority of costs incurred since inception relate to the following projects: restructuring how the Company provides retirement benefits to its U.S.-based employees by shifting them from the Company’s defined benefit retirement plan to the Company’s defined contribution plan; the closing of the Morristown, New Jersey personal care facility; the simplification and streamlining of the Company’s research and development capabilities and oral care supply chain, both in Europe; the consolidation of facilities; the implementation of the Company’s hubbing strategy in Europe; and the extension of shared business services and streamlining global functions.
	The following table summarizes the activity for the restructuring and implementation-related charges discussed above and the related accruals:
			Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
			Employee-Related				Incremental			Asset		Other			Total
			Costs				Depreciation			Impairments
	Balance at December 31, 2013		$	116			$	—		$	—	$	42		$	158
	Charges		20				6			—		76			102
	Cash payments		(31		)		—			—		(23		)	(54		)
	Charges against assets		(1		)		(6		)	—		—			(7		)
	Foreign exchange		(1		)		—			—		(1		)	(2		)
	Balance at March 31, 2014		$	103			$	—		$	—	$	94		$	197
	Employee-Related Costs primarily include severance and other termination benefits and are calculated based on long-standing benefit practices, local statutory requirements and, in certain cases, voluntary termination arrangements. Employee-Related Costs also include pension enhancements amounting to $1 for the three months ended March 31, 2014, which are reflected as Charges against assets within Employee-Related Costs in the preceding tables as the corresponding balance sheet amounts are reflected as a reduction of pension assets or an increase in pension liabilities.
	Incremental Depreciation is recorded to reflect changes in useful lives and estimated residual values for long-lived assets that will be taken out of service prior to the end of their normal service period. Asset Impairments are recorded to write down assets held for sale or disposal to their fair value based on amounts expected to be realized. Charges against assets within Asset Impairments are net of cash proceeds pertaining to the sale of certain assets.
	Other charges consist primarily of charges resulting directly from exit activities and the implementation of new strategies as a result of the 2012 Restructuring Program. These charges for the three months ended March 31, 2014 included third-party incremental costs related to the development and implementation of new business and strategic initiatives of $16 and contract termination costs and charges resulting directly from exit activities of $21 directly related to the 2012 Restructuring Program. These charges were expensed as incurred. Also included in Other charges for the three months ended March 31, 2014 are other exit costs related to the consolidation of facilities of $39.

Inventories

Inventories	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Inventory, Net [Abstract]	'
Inventories	'
	Inventories
	Inventories by major class are as follows:
		March 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Raw materials and supplies	$	338	$	340
	Work-in-process	63		60
	Finished goods	1,077		1,025
	Total Inventories	$	1,478	$	1,425

Shareholders_Equity

Shareholders' Equity	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Stockholders' Equity	'
	Shareholders’ Equity
	Changes in the components of Shareholders’ Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2014 are as follows:
		Colgate-Palmolive Company Shareholders’ Equity																	Noncontrolling
																			Interests
		Common		Additional			Unearned			Treasury			Retained			Accumulated
		Stock		Paid-in			Compensation			Stock			Earnings			Other
				Capital												Comprehensive
																Income (Loss)
	Balance, December 31, 2013	$	1,466	$	1,004		$	(33	)	$	(15,633	)	$	17,952		$	(2,451	)	$	231
	Net income												388						44
	Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax															(86		)	(1		)
	Dividends												(642		)				(4		)
	Stock-based compensation expense			34
	Shares issued for stock options			9						65
	Shares issued for restricted stock awards			(40		)				40
	Treasury stock acquired									(453		)
	Other			3			7
	Balance, March 31, 2014	$	1,466	$	1,010		$	(26	)	$	(15,981	)	$	17,698		$	(2,537	)	$	270
	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) includes cumulative translation losses of $1,815 and $1,772 at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, and unrecognized retirement plan and other retiree benefits costs of $722 and $735 at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

Earnings_Per_Share

Earnings Per Share	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Earnings Per Share	'
	Earnings Per Share
		Three Months Ended
		March 31, 2014					March 31, 2013
		Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company		Shares	Per		Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company		Shares	Per
				(millions)	Share				(millions)	Share
	Basic EPS	$	388	919.5	$	0.42	$	460	936.6	$	0.49
	Stock options and			9.1					8.4
	restricted stock
	Diluted EPS	$	388	928.6	$	0.42	$	460	945	$	0.48
	For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the average number of stock options and restricted stock units that were anti-dilutive and not included in diluted earnings per share calculations were 3,374,995 and 3,750,570, respectively.
	Basic and diluted earnings per share are computed independently for each quarter and any year-to-date period presented. As a result of changes in shares outstanding during the year and rounding, the sum of the quarters’ earnings per share may not necessarily equal the earnings per share for any year-to-date period.

Other_Comprehensive_Income_Los

Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]	'
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Other	'
	Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
	Additions to and reclassifications out of Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:
		2014						2013
		Pretax			Net of Tax			Pretax			Net of Tax
	Cumulative translation adjustments	$	(39	)	$	(43	)	$	(45	)	$	(55	)
	Retirement plans and other retiree benefits:
	Net actuarial gain (loss) and prior service costs arising during the period	3			2			3			2
	Amortization of net actuarial loss, transition and prior service costs (1)	14			11			26			18
	Retirement plans and other retiree benefits adjustments	17			13			29			20
	Available-for-sale securities:
	Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities (2)	(298		)	(194		)	(141		)	(90		)
	Reclassification of (gains) losses into net earnings on available-for-sale securities (3)	211			138			133			86
	Gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities	(87		)	(56		)	(8		)	(4		)
	Cash flow hedges:
	Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	2			1			7			5
	Reclassification of (gains) losses into net earnings on cash flow hedges (4)	(3		)	(1		)	(4		)	(3		)
	Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	(1		)	—			3			2
	Total Other comprehensive income (loss)	$	(110	)	$	(86	)	$	(21	)	$	(37	)
	(1)These components of Other comprehensive income (loss) are included in the computation of total pension cost. See Note 10, Retirement Plans and Other Retiree Benefits for additional details.
	(2)For the three months ended March 31, 2014, these amounts included pretax losses of $276 related to the remeasurement of the bolivar denominated fixed interest rate bonds and the devaluation-protected bonds in Venezuela as a result of the effective devaluation in the first quarter of 2014.
	For the three months ended March 31, 2013, these amounts included pretax losses of $133 only related to the remeasurement of the bolivar denominated fixed interest rate bonds in Venezuela as a result of the devaluation in the first quarter of 2013. No remeasurement charge was required on the devaluation-protected bonds in the first quarter of 2013 since the official exchange rate changed from 4.30 to 6.30 bolivares per dollar and the devaluation-protected bonds revalued to the official exchange rate. See Note 13, Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments for additional details.
	(3)Represents reclassification of (gains) losses on the Venezuela bonds into Other (income) expense, net due to an impairment in the fair value of the bonds as a result of the effective devaluation in the first quarter of 2014 and the devaluation in the first quarter of 2013. See Note 13, Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments for additional details.
	(4)These (gains) losses are reclassified into Cost of sales. See Note 13, Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments for additional details.
	There were no tax impacts on Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Noncontrolling interests.

Retirement_Plans_and_Other_Ret

Retirement Plans and Other Retiree Benefits	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Retirement Plans and Other Retiree Benefits	'
	Retirement Plans and Other Retiree Benefits
	Components of Net periodic benefit cost for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:
		Pension Benefits												Other Retiree Benefits
		United States						International
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013			2014			2013			2014		2013
	Service cost	$	—		$	7		$	5		$	6		$	3	$	4
	Interest cost	25			23			9			7			10		10
	Expected return on plan assets	(27		)	(29		)	(7		)	(6		)	—		(1		)
	Amortization of transition and prior service costs (credits)	—			2			1			—			—		—
	Amortization of actuarial loss (gain)	8			16			1			3			4		5
	Net periodic benefit cost	$	6		$	19		$	9		$	10		$	17	$	18
	For each of the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the Company did not make any voluntary contributions to its U.S. postretirement plans.

Contingencies

Contingencies	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Loss Contingency [Abstract]	'
Contingencies	'
	Contingencies
	As a global company serving consumers in more than 200 countries and territories, the Company is routinely subject to a wide variety of legal proceedings. These include disputes relating to intellectual property, contracts, product liability, marketing, advertising, foreign exchange controls, antitrust and trade regulation, as well as labor and employment, environmental and tax matters and consumer class actions. Management proactively reviews and monitors the Company’s exposure to, and the impact of, environmental matters. The Company is party to various environmental matters and, as such, may be responsible for all or a portion of the cleanup, restoration and post-closure monitoring of several sites.
	As a matter of course, the Company is regularly audited by the IRS and other tax authorities around the world in countries where it conducts business. In this regard, all U.S. federal income tax returns through December 31, 2009 have been audited by, and settled with, the IRS. With a few exceptions, the Company is no longer subject to U.S., state and local income tax examinations for the years prior to 2009. In addition, the Company has subsidiaries in various foreign jurisdictions that have statutes of limitations for tax audits generally ranging from three to six years.
	The Company establishes accruals for loss contingencies when it has determined that a loss is probable and that the amount of loss, or range of loss, can be reasonably estimated. Any such accruals are adjusted thereafter as appropriate to reflect changes in circumstances.
	The Company also determines estimates of reasonably possible losses or ranges of reasonably possible losses in excess of related accrued liabilities, if any, when it has determined that a loss is reasonably possible and it is able to determine such estimates. For those matters disclosed below, the Company currently estimates that the aggregate range of reasonably possible losses in excess of any accrued liabilities is $0 to approximately $250 (based on current exchange rates). The estimates included in this amount are based on the Company’s analysis of currently available information and, as new information is obtained, these estimates may change. Due to the inherent subjectivity of the assessments and the unpredictability of outcomes of legal proceedings, any amounts accrued or included in this aggregate amount may not represent the ultimate loss to the Company from the matters in question. Thus, the Company’s exposure and ultimate losses may be higher or lower, and possibly significantly so, than the amounts accrued or the range disclosed above.
	Based on current knowledge, management does not believe that the ultimate resolution of loss contingencies arising from the matters discussed herein will have a material effect on the Company’s consolidated financial position or its ongoing results of operations or cash flows. However, in light of the inherent uncertainties noted above, an adverse outcome in one or more of these matters could be material to the Company’s results of operations or cash flows for any particular quarter or year.
	Brazilian Matters
	There are certain tax and civil proceedings outstanding, as described below, related to the Company’s 1995 acquisition of the Kolynos oral care business from Wyeth (the “Seller”).
	The Brazilian internal revenue authority has disallowed interest deductions and foreign exchange losses taken by the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary for certain years in connection with the financing of the Kolynos acquisition. The tax assessments with interest, at the current exchange rate, are approximately $120. The Company has been disputing the disallowances by appealing the assessments within the internal revenue authority’s appellate process with the following results to date:
	▪	In June 2005, the First Board of Taxpayers ruled in the Company’s favor and allowed all of the previously claimed deductions for 1996 through 1998. In March 2007, the First Board of Taxpayers ruled in the Company’s favor and allowed all of the previously claimed deductions for 1999 through 2001. The tax authorities appealed these decisions to the next administrative level.
	▪	In August 2009, the First Taxpayers’ Council (the next and final administrative level of appeal) overruled the decisions of the First Board of Taxpayers, upholding the majority of the assessments, disallowing a portion of the assessments and remanding a portion of the assessments for further consideration by the First Board of Taxpayers.
	The Company has filed a motion for clarification with a special appeals chamber of the Taxpayers’ Council, and further appeals are available within the Brazilian federal courts. The Company intends to challenge these assessments vigorously. Although there can be no assurances, management believes, based on the opinion of its Brazilian legal counsel and other advisors, that the disallowances are without merit and that the Company should ultimately prevail on appeal, if necessary, in the Brazilian federal courts.
	In 2002, the Brazilian Federal Public Attorney filed a civil action against the federal government of Brazil, Laboratorios Wyeth-Whitehall Ltda. (the Brazilian subsidiary of the Seller) and the Company, as represented by its Brazilian subsidiary, seeking to annul an April 2000 decision by the Brazilian Board of Tax Appeals that found in favor of the Seller’s Brazilian subsidiary on the issue of whether it had incurred taxable capital gains as a result of the divestiture of Kolynos. The action seeks to make the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary jointly and severally liable for any tax due from the Seller’s Brazilian subsidiary. Although there can be no assurances, management believes, based on the opinion of its Brazilian legal counsel, that the Company should ultimately prevail in this action. The Company intends to challenge this action vigorously.
	In December 2005, the Brazilian internal revenue authority issued to the Company’s Brazilian subsidiary a tax assessment with interest and penalties of approximately $75, at the current exchange rate, based on a claim that certain purchases of U.S. Treasury bills by the subsidiary and their subsequent disposition during the period 2000 to 2001 were subject to a tax on foreign exchange transactions. The Company is disputing the assessment within the internal revenue authority’s administrative appeals process. In October 2007, the Second Board of Taxpayers, which has jurisdiction over these matters, ruled in favor of the internal revenue authority. In January 2008, the Company appealed this decision, and in January 2012, a special appeals chamber of the Taxpayers’ Council denied the Company’s appeal. The Company has filed a motion for clarification with a special appeals chamber of the Taxpayers’ Council and further appeals are available within the Brazilian federal courts. Although there can be no assurances, management believes, based on the advice of its Brazilian legal counsel, that the tax assessment is without merit and that the Company should prevail on appeal, if not at the administrative level, in the Brazilian federal courts. The Company intends to challenge this assessment vigorously.
	Competition Matters
	European Competition Matters
	Certain of the Company’s subsidiaries in Europe are subject to investigations, and in some cases, fines by governmental authorities in a number of European countries related to potential competition law violations. The Company understands that substantially all of these matters also involve other consumer goods companies and/or retail customers. The status of the various pending matters is discussed below.
	Fines have been imposed on the Company in the following matters, although, as noted below, the Company has appealed each of these fines:
	▪	In December 2009, the Swiss competition law authority imposed a fine of $6 on the Company’s GABA subsidiary for alleged violations of restrictions on parallel imports into Switzerland, which the Company appealed. In January 2014, this appeal was denied. The Company is appealing before the Swiss Supreme Court.
	▪	In January 2010, the Company’s Spanish subsidiary was fined $3 by the Spanish competition law authority on the basis that it had entered an agreement with other shower gel manufacturers regarding product downsizing, which the Company contested. The fine was annulled by the Court of Appeal in July 2013. The Spanish competition law authority is appealing this judgment before the Spanish Supreme Court.
	▪	In December 2010, the Italian competition law authority found that 16 consumer goods companies, including the Company’s Italian subsidiary, exchanged competitively sensitive information in the cosmetics sector, for which the Company’s Italian subsidiary was fined $3. The Company is appealing the fine in the Italian courts.
	▪	In March 2012, the French competition law authority found that three pet food producers, including the Company’s Hill’s French subsidiary, had violated the competition law, for which it imposed a fine of $7 on the Company’s Hill’s French subsidiary for alleged restrictions on exports from France, which the Company contested. In October 2013, the Company’s appeal was denied. The Company is appealing before the French Supreme Court.
	Currently, formal claims of violations, or statements of objections, are pending against the Company as follows:
	▪	In October 2012, the Belgian competition law authority alleged that 11 branded goods companies, including the Company’s Belgian subsidiary, assisted retailers to coordinate their retail prices on the Belgian market. The Company is in the process of responding to this statement of objections.
	▪	In June 2013, the French competition law authority issued a statement of objections alleging that the Company’s French subsidiary and a number of its competitors exchanged sensitive information related to the French home care and personal care sectors. The Company has responded to this statement of objections.
	An investigation is ongoing in Greece, but no formal claim of violations has been filed.
	Since December 31, 2013, the following matter has been resolved:
	▪	In January 2014, the French Court of Appeal confirmed the French competition law authority’s December 2011 fine of the Company’s French subsidiary, in the amount of $46, in connection with a divested heavy duty detergent business.
	Australian Competition Matter
	In December 2013, the Australian competition law authority instituted civil proceedings in the Sydney registry of the Federal Court of Australia alleging that three consumer goods companies, including the Company’s Australian subsidiary, a retailer and a former employee of the Company’s Australian subsidiary violated the Australian competition law by coordinating the launching and pricing of ultra concentrated laundry detergents. The Company intends to challenge these proceedings vigorously. Since the amount of any potential losses from these proceedings currently cannot be estimated, the range of reasonably possible losses in excess of accrued liabilities disclosed above does not include any amount relating to these proceedings.
	The Company’s policy is to comply with antitrust and competition laws and, if a violation of any such laws is found, to take appropriate remedial action and to cooperate fully with any related governmental inquiry. Competition and antitrust law investigations often continue for several years and can result in substantial fines for violations that are found. While the Company cannot predict the final financial impact of these competition law issues as these matters may change, the Company evaluates developments in these matters quarterly and accrues liabilities as and when appropriate.
	Talcum Powder Matters
	The Company is a defendant in a number of civil actions alleging that certain talc products it sold prior to 1996 were contaminated with asbestos. Since 2008, the Company has and will continue to challenge these cases vigorously, and although there can be no assurances, it believes, based on the advice of its legal counsel, that they are without merit and the Company should ultimately prevail. Currently, there are 12 single plaintiff cases pending against the Company in state courts in Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and New York and one case pending in federal court in North Carolina. Fourteen similar cases previously filed against the Company have been dismissed and final judgment entered in favor of the Company. To date, there have been no findings of liability against the Company in any of these cases. Since the amount of any potential losses from these cases at trial currently cannot be estimated, the range of reasonably possible losses in excess of accrued liabilities disclosed above does not include any amount relating to these cases.
	In 2014, two of these cases are tentatively scheduled to go to trial, although the Company may succeed in dismissing some or all of them prior to trial. As stated above, the Company believes that it will ultimately prevail as it has in all similar cases.
	ERISA Matters
	In October 2007, a putative class action claiming that certain aspects of the cash balance portion of the Colgate-Palmolive Company Employees’ Retirement Income Plan (the “Plan”) do not comply with the Employee Retirement Income Security Act was filed against the Plan and the Company in the United States District Court for the Southern District of New York. Specifically, Proesel, et al. v. Colgate-Palmolive Company Employees’ Retirement Income Plan, et al. alleges improper calculation of lump sum distributions, age discrimination and failure to satisfy minimum accrual requirements, thereby resulting in the underpayment of benefits to Plan participants.
	Two other putative class actions filed earlier in 2007, Abelman, et al. v. Colgate-Palmolive Company Employees’ Retirement Income Plan, et al., in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, and Caufield v. Colgate-Palmolive Company Employees’ Retirement Income Plan, in the United States District Court for the Southern District of Indiana, both alleging improper calculation of lump sum distributions and, in the case of Abelman, claims for failure to satisfy minimum accrual requirements, were transferred to the Southern District of New York and consolidated with Proesel into one action, In re Colgate-Palmolive ERISA Litigation. The complaint in the consolidated action alleges improper calculation of lump sum distributions and failure to satisfy minimum accrual requirements, but does not include a claim for age discrimination. The relief sought includes recalculation of benefits in unspecified amounts, pre- and post-judgment interest, injunctive relief and attorneys’ fees. In October 2013, the parties executed a settlement agreement under which the Plan would pay approximately $40 after application of certain offsets to resolve the litigation. The settlement agreement is subject to court approval. On December 16, 2013, a motion for preliminary approval of a class action settlement, class certification and appointment of class counsel was approved. A final approval hearing was held on April 4, 2014 and the court is considering final approval. The Company and the Plan intend to contest this action vigorously should the settlement not be approved and finalized.

Segment_Information

Segment Information	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Segment Information	'
	Segment Information
	The Company operates in two product segments: Oral, Personal and Home Care; and Pet Nutrition.  The operations of the Oral, Personal and Home Care product segment are managed geographically in five reportable operating segments: North America, Latin America, Europe/South Pacific, Asia and Africa/Eurasia.
	The Company evaluates segment performance based on several factors, including Operating profit. The Company uses Operating profit as a measure of operating segment performance because it excludes the impact of corporate-driven decisions related to interest expense and income taxes. Corporate operations include costs related to stock options and restricted stock units, research and development costs, Corporate overhead costs, restructuring and related implementation costs and gains and losses on sales of non-core product lines and assets. The Company reports these items within Corporate operations as they relate to Corporate-based responsibilities and decisions and are not included in the internal measures of operating segment performance used by the Company to measure the underlying performance of the operating segments.
	Net sales and Operating profit by segment were as follows:
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2014			2013
	Net sales
	Oral, Personal and Home Care
	North America	$	785		$	764
	Latin America	1,152			1,214
	Europe/South Pacific	865			848
	Asia	672			655
	Africa/Eurasia	298			300
	Total Oral, Personal and Home Care	3,772			3,781
	Pet Nutrition	553			534
	Total Net sales	$	4,325		$	4,315
	Operating profit
	Oral, Personal and Home Care
	North America	$	216		$	215
	Latin America	290			312
	Europe/South Pacific	217			200
	Asia	193			186
	Africa/Eurasia	59			62
	Total Oral, Personal and Home Care	975			975
	Pet Nutrition	144			136
	Corporate	(485		)	(369		)
	Total Operating profit	$	634		$	742
	Approximately 80% of the Company’s Net sales are generated from markets outside the U.S., with over 50% of the Company’s Net sales coming from emerging markets (which consist of Latin America, Asia (excluding Japan), Africa/Eurasia and Central Europe).
	For the three months ended March 31, 2014, Corporate Operating profit (loss) includes charges of $102 associated with the 2012 Restructuring Program, a charge of $266 related to the Venezuela remeasurement and costs of $1 related to the sale of land in Mexico. For the three months ended March 31, 2013, Corporate Operating profit (loss) included charges of $66 associated with the 2012 Restructuring Program, a charge of $172 related to the Venezuela remeasurement and costs of $5 related to the sale of land in Mexico. For further information regarding the 2012 Restructuring Program, refer to Note 5, Restructuring and Related Implementation Charges. For further information regarding Venezuela, refer to Note 14, Venezuela. For further information regarding the sale of land in Mexico, refer to Note 4, Acquisitions and Divestitures.

Fair_Value_Measurements_and_Fi

Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments	'
	Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments
	The Company uses available market information and other valuation methodologies in assessing the fair value of financial instruments. Judgment is required in interpreting market data to develop the estimates of fair value and, accordingly, changes in assumptions or the estimation methodologies may affect the fair value estimates. The Company is exposed to the risk of credit loss in the event of nonperformance by counterparties to financial instrument contracts; however, nonperformance is considered unlikely and any nonperformance is unlikely to be material, as it is the Company’s policy to contract only with diverse, credit-worthy counterparties based upon both strong credit ratings and other credit considerations.
	The Company is exposed to market risk from foreign currency exchange rates, interest rates and commodity price fluctuations. Volatility relating to these exposures is managed on a global basis by utilizing a number of techniques, including working capital management, sourcing strategies, selling price increases, selective borrowings in local currencies and entering into selective derivative instrument transactions, issued with standard features, in accordance with the Company’s treasury and risk management policies, which prohibit the use of derivatives for speculative purposes and leveraged derivatives for any purpose. It is the Company’s policy to enter into derivative instrument contracts with terms that match the underlying exposure being hedged. Hedge ineffectiveness, if any, is not material for any period presented.
	The Company’s derivative instruments include interest rate swap contracts, foreign currency contracts and commodity contracts. The Company utilizes interest rate swap contracts to manage its targeted mix of fixed and floating rate debt, and these swaps are valued using observable benchmark rates (Level 2 valuation). The Company utilizes foreign currency contracts, including forward, option and swap contracts, local currency deposits and local currency borrowings to hedge portions of its foreign currency purchases, assets and liabilities arising in the normal course of business and the net investment in certain foreign subsidiaries. These contracts are valued using observable market rates (Level 2 valuation). Commodity futures contracts are utilized to hedge the purchases of raw materials used in production. These contracts are measured using quoted commodity exchange prices (Level 1 valuation). The duration of foreign currency and commodity contracts generally does not exceed 12 months.
	The following summarizes the fair value of the Company’s derivative instruments and other financial instruments at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
		Assets										Liabilities
				Fair Value								Account	Fair Value
		Account
	Designated derivative instruments			3/31/14				12/31/13					3/31/14			12/31/13
	Interest rate swap contracts	Other current assets		$	—			$	1			Other accruals	$	—		$	—
	Interest rate swap contracts	Other assets		17				20				Other liabilities	7			1
	Foreign currency contracts	Other current assets		7				14				Other accruals	7			8
	Foreign currency contracts	Other assets		—				—				Other liabilities	7			10
	Commodity contracts	Other current assets		1				—				Other accruals	—			—
	Total designated			$	25			$	35				$	21		$	19
	Derivatives not designated
	Foreign currency contracts	Other current assets		$	—			$	—			Other accruals	$	4		$	3
	Total not designated			$	—			$	—				$	4		$	3
	Total derivative instruments			$	25			$	35				$	25		$	22
	Other financial instruments
	Marketable securities	Other current assets		$	243			$	173
	Available-for-sale securities	Other assets		393				685
	Total other financial instruments			$	636			$	858
	The carrying amount of cash, cash equivalents, accounts receivable and short-term debt approximated fair value as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013. The estimated fair value of the Company’s long-term debt, including the current portion, as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, was $6,733 and $5,690, respectively, and the related carrying value was $6,635 and $5,644, respectively. The estimated fair value of long-term debt was derived principally from quoted prices on the Company’s outstanding fixed-term notes (Level 2 valuation).
	Fair value hedges
	The Company has designated all interest rate swap contracts and certain foreign currency forward and option contracts as fair value hedges, for which the gain or loss on the derivative and the offsetting loss or gain on the hedged item are recognized in current earnings. The impact of foreign currency contracts is primarily recognized in Selling, general and administrative expenses and the impact of interest rate swap contracts is recognized in Interest (income) expense, net.
	Activity related to fair value hedges recorded during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was as follows:
		2014											2013
		Foreign				Interest							Foreign			Interest
		Currency				Rate				Total			Currency			Rate			Total
		Contracts				Swaps							Contracts			Swaps
	Notional Value at March 31,	$	681			$	1,688			$	2,369		$	1,085		$	1,338		$	2,423
	Three months ended March 31:
	Gain (loss) on derivative	2				(10		)		(8		)	12			(7		)	5
	Gain (loss) on hedged items	(2		)		10				8			(12		)	7			(5		)
	Cash flow hedges
	All of the Company’s commodity contracts and certain foreign currency forward contracts have been designated as cash flow hedges, for which the effective portion of the gain or loss is reported as a component of Other comprehensive income (“OCI”) and reclassified into earnings in the same period or periods during which the hedged transaction affects earnings.
	Activity related to cash flow hedges recorded during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was as follows:
		2014											2013
		Foreign				Commodity							Foreign			Commodity
		Currency				Contracts				Total			Currency			Contracts			Total
		Contracts											Contracts
	Notional Value at March 31,	$	401			$	15			$	416		$	446		$	52		$	498
	Three months ended March 31:
	Gain (loss) recognized in OCI	—				2				2			8			(1		)	7
	Gain (loss) reclassified into Cost of sales	2				1				3			3			1			4
	The net gain (loss) recognized in OCI for both foreign currency contracts and commodity contracts is expected to be recognized in Cost of sales within the next twelve months.
	Net investment hedges
	The Company has designated certain foreign currency forward and option contracts and certain foreign currency-denominated debt as net investment hedges, for which the gain or loss on the instrument is reported as a component of Currency translation adjustments within OCI, along with the offsetting gain or loss on the hedged items.
	Activity related to net investment hedges recorded during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was as follows:
		2014											2013
		Foreign				Foreign							Foreign			Foreign
		Currency				Currency				Total			Currency			Currency			Total
		Contracts				Debt							Contracts			Debt
	Notional Value at March 31,	$	680			$	256			$	936		$	536		$	375		$	911
	Three months ended March 31:
	Gain (loss) on instruments	—				1				1			14			13			27
	Gain (loss) on hedged items	1				(1		)		—			(13		)	(13		)	(26		)
	Derivatives Not Designated as Hedging Instruments
	Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments for each period consist of a cross-currency swap that serves as an economic hedge of a foreign currency deposit, for which the gain or loss on the instrument and the offsetting gain or loss on the hedged item are recognized in Other (income) expense, net for each period.
	Activity related to these contracts during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was as follows:
		2014				2013
		Cross-currency				Cross-currency
Swap			Swap
Notional Value at March 31,	$	96			$	96
Three months ended March 31:
Gain (loss) on instrument	(1		)		6
Gain (loss) on hedged item	1				(6		)
Other Financial Instruments
Other financial instruments are classified as Other current assets or Other assets.
Other financial instruments classified as Other current assets include marketable securities, which consist of bank deposits of $195 with original maturities greater than 90 days (Level 1 valuation) and the current portion of bonds issued by the Venezuelan government (Level 2 valuation) in the amount of $48. The long-term portion of these bonds in the amount of $393 is included in Other assets.
Through its subsidiary in Venezuela, the Company is invested in U.S. dollar-linked, devaluation-protected bonds and bolivar denominated fixed interest rate bonds, both of which are issued by the Venezuelan government. These bonds are actively traded and, therefore, are considered Level 2 investments as their values are determined based upon observable market-based inputs or unobservable inputs that are corroborated by market data. As of March 31, 2014, the fair market value of U.S. dollar-linked devaluation-protected bonds and bolivar denominated fixed interest rate bonds was $137 and $304, respectively. These bonds are considered available-for-sale securities and, as noted above, the long-term portion in the amount of $393 is included in Other assets.
The following table presents a reconciliation of the Venezuelan bonds at fair value for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:
	2014				2013
Beginning balance as of January 1,	$	685			$	642
Unrealized gain (loss) on investment	(298		)		(141		)
Purchases and sales during the period	54				97
Ending balance as of March 31,	$	441			$	598
Unrealized loss on investment for the three months ended March 31, 2014 consisted primarily of a charge in the amount of $276 related to the remeasurement of the bolivar denominated fixed interest rate bonds and the devaluation-protected bonds in Venezuela as a result of the effective devaluation in the first quarter of 2014.
Unrealized loss on investment for the three months ended March 31, 2013 consisted primarily of a charge in the amount of $133 only related to the remeasurement of the bolivar denominated fixed interest rate bonds in Venezuela as a result of the devaluation in the first quarter of 2013. No remeasurement charge was required on the devaluation-protected bonds in the first quarter of 2013 since the official exchange rate changed from 4.30 to 6.30 bolivares per dollar and the devaluation-protected bonds revalued to the official exchange rate.
For further information regarding Venezuela, refer to Note 14, Venezuela.

Venezuela

Venezuela	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Venezuela	'
	Venezuela
	Venezuela has been designated hyper-inflationary and, therefore, the functional currency for the Company’s Venezuelan subsidiary (“CP Venezuela”) is the U.S. dollar and Venezuelan currency fluctuations are reported in income.
	During the first quarter of 2014, the Venezuelan government enacted several changes to Venezuela’s foreign exchange regime, introducing a multi-tier foreign exchange system whereby there are now three exchange rate mechanisms available to convert Venezuelan bolivares to U.S. dollars. The Venezuelan government replaced CADIVI with a new foreign currency administration, the National Center for Foreign Commerce (“CENCOEX”). Although the official exchange rate remains at 6.30 bolivares per dollar, the exchange rate for foreign investments moved to the rate available on the SICAD I (Supplementary System for the Administration of Foreign Currency) currency market which, in the last auction during the first quarter of 2014, was 10.70 bolivares per dollar. As part of the changes in Venezuela’s foreign exchange system enacted in the first quarter of 2014, the Venezuelan government also introduced an alternative currency market known as SICAD II.
	The Company remeasures the financial statements of CP Venezuela at the end of each month at the rate at which it expects to remit future dividends which, based on the advice of legal counsel, is the SICAD I rate. Effective with the quarter ended March 31, 2014, the Company remeasured the majority of CP Venezuela’s local currency-denominated net monetary assets at the quarter-end SICAD I rate and incurred a pretax loss of $266 ($174 aftertax loss or $0.19 per diluted common share). Included in the loss is a charge related to the devaluation-protected bonds issued by the Venezuelan government and held by CP Venezuela. Because the official exchange rate remains at 6.30 bolivares per dollar, the devaluation-protected bonds did not revalue at the rate available on the SICAD I currency market but remained at the official exchange rate. CP Venezuela continues to be able to settle certain of its U.S. dollar obligations for imported materials at the official rate of 6.30 bolivares per dollar and records the gains related to such transactions when the funds are authorized by CENCOEX and the liabilities are paid.
	In the first quarter of 2013, the Company incurred a pretax loss of $172 ($111 aftertax loss) related to the remeasurement of the net monetary assets in the local balance sheet at the date of the devaluation that changed the official exchange rate from 4.30 to 6.30 bolivares per dollar.
	For the three months ended March 31, 2014, CP Venezuela represented approximately 3% of the Company’s consolidated Net sales. CP Venezuela incurred a small operating loss for the quarter ended March 31, 2014, which was insignificant in relation to the Company’s consolidated Operating profit. At March 31, 2014, CP Venezuela’s local currency-denominated net monetary asset position, which would be subject to remeasurement in the event of further changes in the SICAD I rate, was approximately $489. This amount includes the devaluation-protected bonds issued by the Venezuelan government. CP Venezuela’s local currency-denominated non-monetary assets were approximately $337 at March 31, 2014 and included approximately $226 of fixed assets that could be subject to impairment if CP Venezuela continues to be unable to implement price increases to offset the impacts of continued high inflation or further devaluations, or if it does not have sufficient access to U.S. dollars to fund imports.

Restructuring_and_Related_Impl1

Restructuring and Related Implementation Charges (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Restructuring and Related Activities [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Restructuring and Related Costs	'
	For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, restructuring and implementation-related charges are reflected in the income statement as follows:
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014				2013
	Cost of sales	$	10			$	8
	Selling, general and administrative expenses	17				8
	Other (income) expense, net	75				50
	Total 2012 Restructuring Program charges, pretax	$	102			$	66
	Total 2012 Restructuring Program charges, aftertax	$	73			$	52
Schedule of Restructuring and Related Costs Incurred to Date	'
	Since the inception of the 2012 Restructuring Program in the fourth quarter of 2012, the Company has incurred pretax cumulative charges of $562 ($421 aftertax) in connection with the implementation of various projects as follows:
		Cumulative Charges
		as of March 31, 2014
	Employee-Related Costs	$	242
	Incremental Depreciation	32
	Asset Impairments	1
	Other	287
	Total	$	562
Schedule of Restructuring Reserve by Type of Cost	'
	The following table summarizes the activity for the restructuring and implementation-related charges discussed above and the related accruals:
			Three Months Ended March 31, 2014
			Employee-Related				Incremental			Asset		Other			Total
			Costs				Depreciation			Impairments
	Balance at December 31, 2013		$	116			$	—		$	—	$	42		$	158
	Charges		20				6			—		76			102
	Cash payments		(31		)		—			—		(23		)	(54		)
	Charges against assets		(1		)		(6		)	—		—			(7		)
	Foreign exchange		(1		)		—			—		(1		)	(2		)
	Balance at March 31, 2014		$	103			$	—		$	—	$	94		$	197

Inventories_Tables

Inventories (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Inventory, Net [Abstract]	'
Inventories By Major Class	'
	Inventories by major class are as follows:
		March 31,		December 31,
		2014		2013
	Raw materials and supplies	$	338	$	340
	Work-in-process	63		60
	Finished goods	1,077		1,025
	Total Inventories	$	1,478	$	1,425

Shareholders_Equity_Tables

Shareholders' Equity (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Shareholders' Equity	'
	Changes in the components of Shareholders’ Equity for the three months ended March 31, 2014 are as follows:
		Colgate-Palmolive Company Shareholders’ Equity																	Noncontrolling
																			Interests
		Common		Additional			Unearned			Treasury			Retained			Accumulated
		Stock		Paid-in			Compensation			Stock			Earnings			Other
				Capital												Comprehensive
																Income (Loss)
	Balance, December 31, 2013	$	1,466	$	1,004		$	(33	)	$	(15,633	)	$	17,952		$	(2,451	)	$	231
	Net income												388						44
	Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax															(86		)	(1		)
	Dividends												(642		)				(4		)
	Stock-based compensation expense			34
	Shares issued for stock options			9						65
	Shares issued for restricted stock awards			(40		)				40
	Treasury stock acquired									(453		)
	Other			3			7
	Balance, March 31, 2014	$	1,466	$	1,010		$	(26	)	$	(15,981	)	$	17,698		$	(2,537	)	$	270
	Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) includes cumulative translation losses of $1,815 and $1,772 at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively, and unrecognized retirement plan and other retiree benefits costs of $722 and $735 at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively.

Earnings_Per_Share_Tables

Earnings Per Share (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted	'
		Three Months Ended
		March 31, 2014					March 31, 2013
		Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company		Shares	Per		Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company		Shares	Per
				(millions)	Share				(millions)	Share
	Basic EPS	$	388	919.5	$	0.42	$	460	936.6	$	0.49
	Stock options and			9.1					8.4
	restricted stock
	Diluted EPS	$	388	928.6	$	0.42	$	460	945	$	0.48
	For the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013, the average number of stock options and restricted stock units that were anti-dilutive and not included in diluted earnings per share calculations were 3,374,995 and 3,750,570, respectively.

Other_Comprehensive_Income_Tab

Other Comprehensive Income (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]	'
Schedule of Comprehensive Income (Loss)	'
	Additions to and reclassifications out of Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to the Company for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:
		2014						2013
		Pretax			Net of Tax			Pretax			Net of Tax
	Cumulative translation adjustments	$	(39	)	$	(43	)	$	(45	)	$	(55	)
	Retirement plans and other retiree benefits:
	Net actuarial gain (loss) and prior service costs arising during the period	3			2			3			2
	Amortization of net actuarial loss, transition and prior service costs (1)	14			11			26			18
	Retirement plans and other retiree benefits adjustments	17			13			29			20
	Available-for-sale securities:
	Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities (2)	(298		)	(194		)	(141		)	(90		)
	Reclassification of (gains) losses into net earnings on available-for-sale securities (3)	211			138			133			86
	Gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities	(87		)	(56		)	(8		)	(4		)
	Cash flow hedges:
	Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	2			1			7			5
	Reclassification of (gains) losses into net earnings on cash flow hedges (4)	(3		)	(1		)	(4		)	(3		)
	Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges	(1		)	—			3			2
	Total Other comprehensive income (loss)	$	(110	)	$	(86	)	$	(21	)	$	(37	)
	(1)These components of Other comprehensive income (loss) are included in the computation of total pension cost. See Note 10, Retirement Plans and Other Retiree Benefits for additional details.
	(2)For the three months ended March 31, 2014, these amounts included pretax losses of $276 related to the remeasurement of the bolivar denominated fixed interest rate bonds and the devaluation-protected bonds in Venezuela as a result of the effective devaluation in the first quarter of 2014.
	For the three months ended March 31, 2013, these amounts included pretax losses of $133 only related to the remeasurement of the bolivar denominated fixed interest rate bonds in Venezuela as a result of the devaluation in the first quarter of 2013. No remeasurement charge was required on the devaluation-protected bonds in the first quarter of 2013 since the official exchange rate changed from 4.30 to 6.30 bolivares per dollar and the devaluation-protected bonds revalued to the official exchange rate. See Note 13, Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments for additional details.
	(3)Represents reclassification of (gains) losses on the Venezuela bonds into Other (income) expense, net due to an impairment in the fair value of the bonds as a result of the effective devaluation in the first quarter of 2014 and the devaluation in the first quarter of 2013. See Note 13, Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments for additional details.
	(4)These (gains) losses are reclassified into Cost of sales. See Note 13, Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments for additional details.
	There were no tax impacts on Other comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Noncontrolling interests.

Retirement_Plans_and_Other_Ret1

Retirement Plans and Other Retiree Benefits (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Components Of Net Periodic Benefit Cost	'
	Components of Net periodic benefit cost for the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 were as follows:
		Pension Benefits												Other Retiree Benefits
		United States						International
		Three Months Ended March 31,
		2014			2013			2014			2013			2014		2013
	Service cost	$	—		$	7		$	5		$	6		$	3	$	4
	Interest cost	25			23			9			7			10		10
	Expected return on plan assets	(27		)	(29		)	(7		)	(6		)	—		(1		)
	Amortization of transition and prior service costs (credits)	—			2			1			—			—		—
	Amortization of actuarial loss (gain)	8			16			1			3			4		5
	Net periodic benefit cost	$	6		$	19		$	9		$	10		$	17	$	18

Segment_Information_Tables

Segment Information (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Net Sales and Operating Profit by Segment	'
	Net sales and Operating profit by segment were as follows:
		Three Months Ended
		March 31,
		2014			2013
	Net sales
	Oral, Personal and Home Care
	North America	$	785		$	764
	Latin America	1,152			1,214
	Europe/South Pacific	865			848
	Asia	672			655
	Africa/Eurasia	298			300
	Total Oral, Personal and Home Care	3,772			3,781
	Pet Nutrition	553			534
	Total Net sales	$	4,325		$	4,315
	Operating profit
	Oral, Personal and Home Care
	North America	$	216		$	215
	Latin America	290			312
	Europe/South Pacific	217			200
	Asia	193			186
	Africa/Eurasia	59			62
	Total Oral, Personal and Home Care	975			975
	Pet Nutrition	144			136
	Corporate	(485		)	(369		)
	Total Operating profit	$	634		$	742

Fair_Value_Measurements_and_Fi1

Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments (Tables)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'
Schedule of derivative instruments	'
	The following summarizes the fair value of the Company’s derivative instruments and other financial instruments at March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013:
		Assets										Liabilities
				Fair Value								Account	Fair Value
		Account
	Designated derivative instruments			3/31/14				12/31/13					3/31/14			12/31/13
	Interest rate swap contracts	Other current assets		$	—			$	1			Other accruals	$	—		$	—
	Interest rate swap contracts	Other assets		17				20				Other liabilities	7			1
	Foreign currency contracts	Other current assets		7				14				Other accruals	7			8
	Foreign currency contracts	Other assets		—				—				Other liabilities	7			10
	Commodity contracts	Other current assets		1				—				Other accruals	—			—
	Total designated			$	25			$	35				$	21		$	19
	Derivatives not designated
	Foreign currency contracts	Other current assets		$	—			$	—			Other accruals	$	4		$	3
	Total not designated			$	—			$	—				$	4		$	3
	Total derivative instruments			$	25			$	35				$	25		$	22
	Other financial instruments
	Marketable securities	Other current assets		$	243			$	173
	Available-for-sale securities	Other assets		393				685
	Total other financial instruments			$	636			$	858
Activity related to fair value hedges	'
	Activity related to fair value hedges recorded during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was as follows:
		2014											2013
		Foreign				Interest							Foreign			Interest
		Currency				Rate				Total			Currency			Rate			Total
		Contracts				Swaps							Contracts			Swaps
	Notional Value at March 31,	$	681			$	1,688			$	2,369		$	1,085		$	1,338		$	2,423
	Three months ended March 31:
	Gain (loss) on derivative	2				(10		)		(8		)	12			(7		)	5
	Gain (loss) on hedged items	(2		)		10				8			(12		)	7			(5		)
Activity related to cash flow hedges	'
	Activity related to cash flow hedges recorded during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was as follows:
		2014											2013
		Foreign				Commodity							Foreign			Commodity
		Currency				Contracts				Total			Currency			Contracts			Total
		Contracts											Contracts
	Notional Value at March 31,	$	401			$	15			$	416		$	446		$	52		$	498
	Three months ended March 31:
	Gain (loss) recognized in OCI	—				2				2			8			(1		)	7
	Gain (loss) reclassified into Cost of sales	2				1				3			3			1			4
Activity related to net investment hedges	'
	Activity related to net investment hedges recorded during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was as follows:
		2014											2013
		Foreign				Foreign							Foreign			Foreign
		Currency				Currency				Total			Currency			Currency			Total
		Contracts				Debt							Contracts			Debt
	Notional Value at March 31,	$	680			$	256			$	936		$	536		$	375		$	911
	Three months ended March 31:
	Gain (loss) on instruments	—				1				1			14			13			27
	Gain (loss) on hedged items	1				(1		)		—			(13		)	(13		)	(26		)
Activity related to derivatives not designated as hedging instruments	'
	Activity related to these contracts during the three-month periods ended March 31, 2014 and 2013 was as follows:
		2014				2013
		Cross-currency				Cross-currency
		Swap				Swap
	Notional Value at March 31,	$	96			$	96
	Three months ended March 31:
	Gain (loss) on instrument	(1		)		6
	Gain (loss) on hedged item	1				(6		)
Reconciliation of the Venezuelan investments at fair value	'
	The following table presents a reconciliation of the Venezuelan bonds at fair value for the three months ended March 31, 2014 and 2013:
		2014				2013
	Beginning balance as of January 1,	$	685			$	642
	Unrealized gain (loss) on investment	(298		)		(141		)
	Purchases and sales during the period	54				97
	Ending balance as of March 31,	$	441			$	598

Acquisitions_and_Divestitures_

Acquisitions and Divestitures (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Sale of Land in Mexico [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
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	1	5	'	'
Aftertax costs related to sale of land	$1	$3	'	'

Restructuring_and_Related_Impl2

Restructuring and Related Implementation Charges (Details) (Two Thousand Twelve Restructuring Program [Member], USD $)

3 Months Ended

18 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

18 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

18 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

18 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

3 Months Ended

18 Months Ended

In Millions, unless otherwise specified

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2012

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

One-time Termination Benefits [Member]

One-time Termination Benefits [Member]

Incremental Depreciation And Asset Impairment [Member]

Incremental Depreciation [Member]

Incremental Depreciation [Member]

Asset Impairment [Member]

Asset Impairment [Member]

Charges Resulting Directly From Exit Activities [Member]

Contract Termination [Member]

Implementation Of New Strategies [Member]

Third party Incremental Cost [Member]

Land and Building [Member]

Other Restructuring [Member]

Other Restructuring [Member]

Expected Completion Date 2016

Expected Completion Date 2016

Expected Completion Date 2016

Expected Completion Date December 2014 [Member]

Expected Completion Date December 2014 [Member]

employees

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Minimum [Member]

Maximum [Member]

Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Duration Of Restructuring Program

'4 years

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Restructuring Program Expected Cost Before Tax

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$1,100

$1,250

$275

$325

Restructuring Program Expected Cost After Tax

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

775

875

200

230

Expected Percent of Total Pretax Charges by Category

'

'

'

50.00%

50.00%

15.00%

'

'

'

'

20.00%

'

15.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Expected Percent of Total Charges Resulting In Cash Expenditure

75.00%

'

75.00%

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Percentage Reduction Of Global Employee Workforce

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

6.00%

'

'

'

'

Number of Employees as of the Start of the 2012 Restructuring Program

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

38,000

'

'

'

'

Pretax charges related to the 2012 Restructuring Program

102

66

'

20

'

'

6

'

0

'

'

21

'

16

39

76

'

'

'

'

'

'

Pretax charges related to the 2012 Restructuring Program to date

'

'

562

'

242

'

'

32

'

1

'

'

'

'

'

'

287

'

'

'

'

'

Aftertax charges related to the 2012 Restructuring Program to date

'

'

421

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Charges Against Assets

($7)

'

'

($1)

'

'

($6)

'

$0

'

'

'

'

'

'

$0

'

'

'

'

'

'

Restructuring_and_Related_Impl3

Restructuring and Related Implementation Charges (Details 1) (Two Thousand Twelve Restructuring Program [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended		18 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Pretax charges related to the 2012 Restructuring Program	102	66	'
Aftertax charges related to the 2012 Restructuring Program	73	52	'
Cost of Sales [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Pretax charges related to the 2012 Restructuring Program	10	8	'
Selling, General and Administrative Expenses [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Pretax charges related to the 2012 Restructuring Program	17	8	'
Other (Income) Expense, Net [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Pretax charges related to the 2012 Restructuring Program	75	50	'
Pet Nutrition [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Expected Percent of Total Restructuring Charges Related to Segment	10.00%	'	10.00%
Percent of Restructuring Charges Related to Segment for Period	8.00%	3.00%	'
Percent of Restructuring Charges Related to Segment Program to Date	'	'	7.00%
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Expected Percent of Total Restructuring Charges Related to Segment	40.00%	'	40.00%
Percent of Restructuring Charges Related to Segment for Period	56.00%	45.00%	'
Percent of Restructuring Charges Related to Segment Program to Date	'	'	44.00%
North America [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Expected Percent of Total Restructuring Charges Related to Segment	15.00%	'	15.00%
Percent of Restructuring Charges Related to Segment for Period	9.00%	'	'
Percent of Restructuring Charges Related to Segment Program to Date	'	'	10.00%
Latin America [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Expected Percent of Total Restructuring Charges Related to Segment	5.00%	'	5.00%
Percent of Restructuring Charges Related to Segment for Period	4.00%	15.00%	'
Percent of Restructuring Charges Related to Segment Program to Date	'	'	3.00%
Europe/South Pacific [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Expected Percent of Total Restructuring Charges Related to Segment	20.00%	'	20.00%
Percent of Restructuring Charges Related to Segment for Period	21.00%	31.00%	'
Percent of Restructuring Charges Related to Segment Program to Date	'	'	31.00%
Asia [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Expected Percent of Total Restructuring Charges Related to Segment	5.00%	'	5.00%
Africa/Eurasia [Member]	'	'	'
Restructuring Cost and Reserve [Line Items]	'	'	'
Expected Percent of Total Restructuring Charges Related to Segment	5.00%	'	5.00%
Percent of Restructuring Charges Related to Segment for Period	2.00%	6.00%	'
Percent of Restructuring Charges Related to Segment Program to Date	'	'	5.00%

Restructuring_and_Related_Impl4

Restructuring and Related Implementation Charges (Details 2) (Two Thousand Twelve Restructuring Program [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'
Balance	$158	'
Charges	102	66
Cash payments	-54	'
Charges Against Assets	-7	'
Foreign exchange	-2	'
Balance	197	'
One-time Termination Benefits [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'
Balance	116	'
Charges	20	'
Cash payments	-31	'
Charges Against Assets	-1	'
Foreign exchange	-1	'
Balance	103	'
Incremental Depreciation [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'
Balance	0	'
Charges	6	'
Cash payments	0	'
Charges Against Assets	-6	'
Foreign exchange	0	'
Balance	0	'
Asset Impairment [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'
Balance	0	'
Charges	0	'
Cash payments	0	'
Charges Against Assets	0	'
Foreign exchange	0	'
Balance	0	'
Other Restructuring [Member]	'	'
Restructuring Reserve [Roll Forward]	'	'
Balance	42	'
Charges	76	'
Cash payments	-23	'
Charges Against Assets	0	'
Foreign exchange	-1	'
Balance	$94	'

Inventories_Details

Inventories (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Inventory, Net [Abstract]	'	'
Raw materials and supplies	$338	$340
Work-in-process	63	60
Finished goods	1,077	1,025
Total Inventories	$1,478	$1,425

Shareholders_Equity_Details

Shareholders' Equity (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2013
Changes in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Beginning balance	$2,536	'	'
Net income	432	506	'
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	-87	-37	'
Ending balance	1,900	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment, Net of Tax	1,815	'	1,772
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net of Tax	722	'	735
Common Stock [Member]	'	'	'
Changes in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Beginning balance	'	'	1,466
Ending balance	1,466	'	1,466
Additional Paid-In Capital [Member]	'	'	'
Changes in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Beginning balance	1,004	'	'
Stock-based compensation expense	34	'	'
Shares issued for stock options	9	'	'
Stock issued for restricted stock awards	-40	'	'
Other	3	'	'
Ending balance	1,010	'	'
Unearned Compensation [Member]	'	'	'
Changes in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Beginning balance	-33	'	'
Other	7	'	'
Ending balance	-26	'	'
Treasury Stock [Member]	'	'	'
Changes in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Beginning balance	-15,633	'	'
Shares issued for stock options	65	'	'
Stock issued for restricted stock awards	40	'	'
Treasury stock acquired	-453	'	'
Other	'	'	'
Ending balance	-15,981	'	'
Retained Earnings [Member]	'	'	'
Changes in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Beginning balance	17,952	'	'
Net income	388	'	'
Dividends	-642	'	'
Ending balance	17,698	'	'
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	'	'	'
Changes in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Beginning balance	-2,451	'	'
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	-86	'	'
Ending balance	-2,537	'	'
Noncontrolling Interests [Member]	'	'	'
Changes in Shareholders' Equity [Roll Forward]	'	'	'
Beginning balance	231	'	'
Net income	44	'	'
Other comprehensive income, net of tax	-1	'	'
Dividends	-4	'	'
Ending balance	$270	'	'

Earnings_Per_Share_Details

Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Earnings Per Share Reconciliation [Abstract]	'	'
Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company, Basic	$388	$460
Net income attributable to Colgate-Palmolive Company, Diluted	$388	$460
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Diluted [Abstract]	'	'
Basic EPS (in shares)	919,500,000	936,600,000
Stock options and restricted stock (in shares)	9,100,000	8,400,000
Diluted EPS (in shares)	928,600,000	945,000,000
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Abstract]	'	'
Earnings Per Share, Basic	$0.42	$0.49
Earnings Per Share, Diluted	$0.42	$0.48
Antidilutive Securities Excluded from Computation of Earnings Per Share, Amount	3,374,995	3,750,570

Other_Comprehensive_Income_Det

Other Comprehensive Income (Details)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014		Mar. 31, 2013		Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2012
	USD ($)		USD ($)		VEF	VEF
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Abstract]	'		'		'	'
Cumulative translation adjustments, before-tax	($39)		($45)		'	'
Cumulative translation adjustment, net-of-tax	-43		-55		'	'
Pension and other benefits:	'		'		'	'
Net actuarial gains (losses) and prior service costs arising during the period, before-tax	3		3		'	'
Net actuarial gains (losses) and prior service costs arising during the period, net-of-tax	2		2		'	'
Amortization of net actuarial loss, transition & prior service costs, before-tax	14	[1]	26	[1]	'	'
Amortization of net actuarial loss, transition & prior service costs, net-of-tax	11	[1]	18	[1]	'	'
Retirement Plan and other retiree benefit adjustments, before-tax	17		29		'	'
Retirement Plan and other retiree benefit adjustments, net-of-tax	13		20		'	'
Available-for-sale securities:	'		'		'	'
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, before-tax	-298	[2]	-141	[2]	'	'
Unrealized gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net-of-tax	-194	[2]	-90	[2]	'	'
Reclassification of (gains) losses into net earnings on available-for-sale securities, before-tax	211	[3]	133	[3]	'	'
Reclassification of (gains) losses into net earnings on available-for-sale securities, net-of-tax	138	[3]	86	[3]	'	'
Gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, before-tax	-87		-8		'	'
Gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities, net-of-tax	-56		-4		'	'
Cash flow hedges:	'		'		'	'
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, before-tax	2		7		'	'
Unrealized gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, net-of-tax	1		5		'	'
Reclassification of (gains) losses into net earnings on cash flow hedges, before-tax	-3	[4]	-4	[4]	'	'
Reclassification of (gains) losses into net earnings on cash flow hedges, net-of-tax	-1	[4]	-3	[4]	'	'
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, before-tax	-1		3		'	'
Gains (losses) on cash flow hedges, net-of-tax	0		2		'	'
Total other comprehensive income (loss), before-tax	-110		-21		'	'
Total other comprehensive income (loss), net-of-tax	-86		-37		'	'
Remeasurement Due To Change in Foreign Exchange Rates [Abstract]	'		'		'	'
Loss related to the remeasurement of fixed interest rate and devaluations-protected bonds in Venezuela	276		'		'	'
Loss related to the remeasurement of fixed interest rate bonds in Venezuela	'		$133		'	'
Official currency exchange rate in Venezuela for non-essential goods prior to devaluation beginning February 9, 2013	'		'		'	4.3
Official currency exchange rate in Venezuela for non-essential goods beginning February 9, 2013	'		'		6.3	'
[1]	These components of Other comprehensive income (loss) are included in the computation of total pension cost. See Note 10, Retirement Plans and Other Retiree Benefits for additional details.
[2]	For the three months ended March 31, 2014, these amounts included pretax losses of $276 related to the remeasurement of the bolivar denominated fixed interest rate bonds and the devaluation-protected bonds in Venezuela as a result of the effective devaluation in the first quarter of 2014. For the three months ended March 31, 2013, these amounts included pretax losses of $133 only related to the remeasurement of the bolivar denominated fixed interest rate bonds in Venezuela as a result of the devaluation in the first quarter of 2013. No remeasurement charge was required on the devaluation-protected bonds in the first quarter of 2013 since the official exchange rate changed from 4.30 to 6.30 bolivares per dollar and the devaluation-protected bonds revalued to the official exchange rate. See Note 13, Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments for additional details.
[3]	Represents reclassification of (gains) losses on the Venezuela bonds into Other (income) expense, net due to an impairment in the fair value of the bonds as a result of the effective devaluation in the first quarter of 2014 and the devaluation in the first quarter of 2013. See Note 13, Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments for additional details.
[4]	These (gains) losses are reclassified into Cost of sales. See Note 13, Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments for additional details.

Retirement_Plans_and_Other_Ret2

Retirement Plans and Other Retiree Benefits (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]	'	'
Defined Benefit Plan, Contributions by Employer	$0	$0
United States Pension Benefits [Member]	'	'
Components of net periodic benefit cost	'	'
Service Cost	0	7
Interest cost	25	23
Expected return on plan assets	-27	-29
Amortization of transition and prior service costs (credits)	0	2
Amortization of actuarial loss	8	16
Net periodic benefit cost	6	19
International Pension Benefits [Member]	'	'
Components of net periodic benefit cost	'	'
Service Cost	5	6
Interest cost	9	7
Expected return on plan assets	-7	-6
Amortization of transition and prior service costs (credits)	1	0
Amortization of actuarial loss	1	3
Net periodic benefit cost	9	10
Other Retiree Benefits [Member]	'	'
Components of net periodic benefit cost	'	'
Service Cost	3	4
Interest cost	10	10
Expected return on plan assets	0	-1
Amortization of transition and prior service costs (credits)	0	0
Amortization of actuarial loss	4	5
Net periodic benefit cost	$17	$18

Contingencies_Details

Contingencies (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Oct. 09, 2013
	country_and_territory
Loss Contingency [Abstract]	'	'
Minimum Number Of Countries And Territories Serving Consumers	200	'
Range of reasonably possible losses, minimum	$0	'
Range of reasonably possible losses, maximum	250	'
Brazilian internal revenue authority, matter 1	120	'
Brazilian internal revenue authority, matter 2	75	'
European competition matters - Swiss competition law authority	6	'
European competition matters - Spanish competition law authority	3	'
European competition matters - Italian competition law authority	3	'
European competition matters - Hill's France Subsidiary	7	'
Fine Imposed French competition authority	46	'
ERISA Matter	'	$40

Segment_Information_Details

Segment Information (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Pretax Venezuela Remeasurement Charge	$266	$172
Pretax costs related to sale of land	1	5
Total Net sales	4,325	4,315
Total Operating profit	634	742
Operating Segments [Member] | Oral, Personal and Home Care [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Total Net sales	3,772	3,781
Total Operating profit	975	975
Operating Segments [Member] | Pet Nutrition [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Total Net sales	553	534
Total Operating profit	144	136
Operating Segments [Member] | North America [Member] | Oral, Personal and Home Care [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Total Net sales	785	764
Total Operating profit	216	215
Operating Segments [Member] | Latin America [Member] | Oral, Personal and Home Care [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Total Net sales	1,152	1,214
Total Operating profit	290	312
Operating Segments [Member] | Europe/South Pacific [Member] | Oral, Personal and Home Care [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Total Net sales	865	848
Total Operating profit	217	200
Operating Segments [Member] | Asia [Member] | Oral, Personal and Home Care [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Total Net sales	672	655
Total Operating profit	193	186
Operating Segments [Member] | Africa/Eurasia [Member] | Oral, Personal and Home Care [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Total Net sales	298	300
Total Operating profit	59	62
Corporate, Non-Segment [Member] | Corporate, Non-Segment [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Total Operating profit	-485	-369
Two Thousand Twelve Restructuring Program [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Pretax charges related to the 2012 Restructuring Program	$102	$66
Sales Revenue, Net [Member]	'	'
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]	'	'
Percentage of Consolidated Net Sales represented by Sales outside US	80.00%	'
Percentage of Consolidated Net Sales coming from Emerging Markets	50.00%	'

Fair_Value_Measurements_and_Fi2

Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments (Details 1) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Derivative and Financial Instruments, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Total assets derivatives	$25	$35
Total liabilities derivatives	25	22
Financial Instruments, Owned, at Fair Value [Abstract]	'	'
Total other financial instruments	636	858
Designated derivative instruments	'	'
Derivative Assets	25	35
Derivative Liabilities	21	19
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments [Abstract]	'	'
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Asset, at Fair Value	0	0
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Liability, at Fair Value	4	3
Other Current Assets [Member]	'	'
Derivative and Financial Instruments, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Marketable Securities	243	173
Interest Rate Swap Contracts [Member] | Other Current Assets [Member]	'	'
Designated derivative instruments	'	'
Derivative Assets	0	1
Interest Rate Swap Contracts [Member] | Other Assets [Member]	'	'
Designated derivative instruments	'	'
Derivative Assets	17	20
Interest Rate Swap Contracts [Member] | Other Accruals [Member]	'	'
Designated derivative instruments	'	'
Derivative Liabilities	0	0
Interest Rate Swap Contracts [Member] | Other Liabilities [Member]	'	'
Designated derivative instruments	'	'
Derivative Liabilities	7	1
Foreign Currency Contracts [Member] | Other Current Assets [Member]	'	'
Designated derivative instruments	'	'
Derivative Assets	7	14
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments [Abstract]	'	'
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Asset, at Fair Value	0	0
Foreign Currency Contracts [Member] | Other Assets [Member]	'	'
Designated derivative instruments	'	'
Derivative Assets	0	0
Foreign Currency Contracts [Member] | Other Accruals [Member]	'	'
Designated derivative instruments	'	'
Derivative Liabilities	7	8
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments [Abstract]	'	'
Derivative Instruments Not Designated as Hedging Instruments, Liability, at Fair Value	4	3
Foreign Currency Contracts [Member] | Other Liabilities [Member]	'	'
Designated derivative instruments	'	'
Derivative Liabilities	7	10
Commodity Contracts [Member] | Other Current Assets [Member]	'	'
Designated derivative instruments	'	'
Derivative Assets	1	0
Commodity Contracts [Member] | Other Accruals [Member]	'	'
Designated derivative instruments	'	'
Derivative Liabilities	0	0
Bonds Issued By Venezuelan Government [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Other Current Assets [Member]	'	'
Derivative and Financial Instruments, Fair Value [Line Items]	'	'
Marketable Securities	48	'
Bonds Issued By Venezuelan Government [Member] | Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member] | Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member] | Other Assets [Member]	'	'
Financial Instruments, Owned, at Fair Value [Abstract]	'	'
Available-for-sale Securities, Fair Value Disclosure	$393	$685

Fair_Value_Measurements_and_Fi3

Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments (Details 2) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
Carrying Value [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Long-term debt	$6,635	$5,644
Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]	'	'
Debt Instrument [Line Items]	'	'
Debt Instrument, Fair Value Disclosure	$6,733	$5,690

Fair_Value_Measurements_and_Fi4

Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments (Details 3) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Fair Value Hedging [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative, Notional Amount	$2,369	$2,423
Activity related to fair value hedges [Abstract]	'	'
Gain (loss) on derivative	-8	5
Gain (loss) on hedged items	8	-5
Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Foreign Currency Contracts [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative, Notional Amount	681	1,085
Activity related to fair value hedges [Abstract]	'	'
Gain (loss) on derivative	2	12
Gain (loss) on hedged items	-2	-12
Fair Value Hedging [Member] | Interest Rate Swap Contracts [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative, Notional Amount	1,688	1,338
Activity related to fair value hedges [Abstract]	'	'
Gain (loss) on derivative	-10	-7
Gain (loss) on hedged items	10	7
Cash Flow Hedging [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative, Notional Amount	416	498
Activity related to cash flow hedges [Abstract]	'	'
Gain (loss) recognized in OCI	2	7
Gain (loss) reclassified into Cost of sales	3	4
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Foreign Currency Contracts [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative, Notional Amount	401	446
Activity related to cash flow hedges [Abstract]	'	'
Gain (loss) recognized in OCI	0	8
Gain (loss) reclassified into Cost of sales	2	3
Cash Flow Hedging [Member] | Commodity Contracts [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative, Notional Amount	15	52
Activity related to cash flow hedges [Abstract]	'	'
Gain (loss) recognized in OCI	2	-1
Gain (loss) reclassified into Cost of sales	1	1
Net Investment Hedging [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative, Notional Amount	936	911
Activity related to net investment hedges [Abstract]	'	'
Gain (loss) on instruments	1	27
Gain (loss) on hedged items	0	-26
Net Investment Hedging [Member] | Foreign Currency Contracts [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative, Notional Amount	680	536
Activity related to net investment hedges [Abstract]	'	'
Gain (loss) on instruments	0	14
Gain (loss) on hedged items	1	-13
Net Investment Hedging [Member] | Foreign Currency Denominated Debt [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative, Notional Amount	256	375
Activity related to net investment hedges [Abstract]	'	'
Gain (loss) on instruments	1	13
Gain (loss) on hedged items	-1	-13
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Cross-Currency Swap [Member]	'	'
Derivative Instruments, Gain (Loss) [Line Items]	'	'
Derivative, Notional Amount	96	96
Activity related to derivatives not designated as hedging instruments [Abstract]	'	'
Gain (loss) on instrument	-1	6
Gain (loss) on hedged item	$1	($6)

Fair_Value_Measurements_and_Fi5

Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments (Details 4)

3 Months Ended

In Millions, unless otherwise specified

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2012

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2013

Dec. 31, 2012

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Mar. 31, 2014

Dec. 31, 2013

Mar. 31, 2014

USD ($)

USD ($)

VEF

VEF

Bonds Issued By Venezuelan Government [Member]

Bonds Issued By Venezuelan Government [Member]

Bonds Issued By Venezuelan Government [Member]

Bonds Issued By Venezuelan Government [Member]

Other Current Assets [Member]

Other Current Assets [Member]

Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]

Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]

Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]

Fair Value, Inputs, Level 2 [Member]

Fair Value, Inputs, Level 1 [Member]

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

USD ($)

Bonds Issued By Venezuelan Government [Member]

Other Current Assets [Member]

Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]

Estimate of Fair Value Measurement [Member]

Other Current Assets [Member]

USD ($)

Bonds Issued By Venezuelan Government [Member]

Other Assets [Member]

Other Assets [Member]

USD ($)

USD ($)

Bonds Issued By Venezuelan Government [Member]

Bonds Issued By Venezuelan Government [Member]

USD ($)

USD ($)

Schedule of Available-for-sale Securities [Line Items]

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Loss related to the remeasurement of fixed interest rate and devaluations-protected bonds in Venezuela

$276

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Loss related to the remeasurement of fixed interest rate bonds in Venezuela

'

133

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Marketable Securities

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

243

173

'

48

'

'

195

Available-for-sale Securities

'

'

'

'

441

685

598

642

'

'

'

'

393

685

'

Fair Value of U.S. dollar-linked, devaluation-protected bonds

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

137

'

'

'

'

Fair Value of fixed interest rate bonds

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

$304

'

'

'

'

Official currency exchange rate in Venezuela for non-essential goods prior to devaluation beginning February 9, 2013

'

'

'

4.3

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Official currency exchange rate in Venezuela for non-essential goods beginning February 9, 2013

'

'

6.3

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

'

Fair_Value_Measurements_and_Fi6

Fair Value Measurements and Financial Instruments (Details 5) (Bonds Issued By Venezuelan Government [Member], USD $)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Bonds Issued By Venezuelan Government [Member]	'	'
Venezuelan Investments [Roll Forward]	'	'
Beginning balance	$685	$642
Unrealized gain (loss) on investment	-298	-141
Purchases and sales during the period	54	97
Ending balance	$441	$598

Venezuela_Details

Venezuela (Details)	3 Months Ended
In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2012
	USD ($)	USD ($)	VEF	VEF
Notes to Financial Statements [Abstract]	'	'	'	'
Official currency exchange rate in Venezuela for non-essential goods prior to devaluation beginning February 9, 2013	'	'	'	4.3
Official currency exchange rate in Venezuela for non-essential goods beginning February 9, 2013	'	'	6.3	'
SICAD Exchange Rate in Venezuela at March 31, 2014	'	'	10.7	'
Pretax Venezuela Remeasurement Charge	$266	$172	'	'
Aftertax Venezuela Remeasurement Charge	174	111	'	'
Impact of aftertax Venezuela devaluation charge per common share diluted	$0.19	'	'	'
Percentage of consolidated Net sales represented by CP Venezuela (in hundredths)	3.00%	'	'	'
CP Venezuela bolivar fuerte denominated monetary net asset position	489	'	'	'
Venezuela Subsidiary Bolivar Fuerte Denominated Non Monetary Asset Position	337	'	'	'
Venezuela Subsidiary Bolivar Fuerte Denominated Non Monetary Fixed Asset Position	$226	'	'	'