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Capital Stock and Stock-Based Compensation Plans (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Feb. 19, 2015
Preference Stock [Abstract]        
Shares authorized (in shares) 50,262,150us-gaap_PreferredStockSharesAuthorized      
Stock Repurchases [Abstract]        
Repurchased stock $ 1,530us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock $ 1,521us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock $ 1,943us-gaap_PaymentsForRepurchaseOfCommonStock  
Increase of Common Stock, Percentage, Stock Splits   100.00%cl_IncreaseofCommonStockPercentageStockSplits    
Stockholders' Equity Note, Stock Split, Conversion Ratio   2us-gaap_StockholdersEquityNoteStockSplitConversionRatio1    
Summary of common stock activity [Roll Forward]        
Common Stock Balance, January 1 (in shares) 919,946,575us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding 935,728,676us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding 960,036,150us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding  
Common stock acquired (in shares) (23,131,081)us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired (25,573,317)us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired (38,730,602)us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired  
Shares issued for stock options (in shares) 7,977,124us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation 7,883,834us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation 12,217,230us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation  
Shares issued for restricted stock and other (in shares) 1,919,527us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesRestrictedStockAwardNetOfForfeitures 1,907,382us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesRestrictedStockAwardNetOfForfeitures 2,205,898us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesRestrictedStockAwardNetOfForfeitures  
Common Stock Balance, December 31 (in shares) 906,712,145us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding 919,946,575us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding 935,728,676us-gaap_CommonStockSharesOutstanding  
Summary Of Treasury Stock Activity [Roll Forward]        
Treasury Stock Balance, January 1 (in shares) 545,759,785us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares 529,977,684us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares 505,670,210us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares  
Common stock acquired (in shares) 23,131,081us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired 25,573,317us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired 38,730,602us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesAcquired  
Shares issued for stock options (in shares) (7,977,124)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation (7,883,834)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation (12,217,230)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesShareBasedCompensation  
Shares issued for restricted stock and other (in shares) (1,919,527)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesRestrictedStockAwardNetOfForfeitures (1,907,382)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesRestrictedStockAwardNetOfForfeitures (2,205,898)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesRestrictedStockAwardNetOfForfeitures  
Treasury Stock Balance, December 31 (in shares) 558,994,215us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares 545,759,785us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares 529,977,684us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares  
Stock-based compensation [Abstract]        
Allocated Share-based Compensation Expense 131us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense 128us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense 120us-gaap_AllocatedShareBasedCompensationExpense  
Total income tax benefit 42us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense 39us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense 37us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitFromCompensationExpense  
Fair Value Assumptions [Abstract]        
Weighted-average estimated fair value of stock options granted (in dollars per share) $ 7.60us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue $ 7.41us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue $ 6.73us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue  
Expected term (in years) 4 years 6 months 4 years 6 months 4 years 6 months  
Expected Volatility Rate (in hundredths) 17.10%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate 18.40%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate 20.80%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedVolatilityRate  
Risk-Free Rate (in hundredths) 1.60%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate 1.50%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate 0.60%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsRiskFreeInterestRate  
Expected Dividend Yield (in hundredths) 2.30%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate 2.30%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate 2.40%us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate  
Summary of restricted stock award activity [Roll Forward]        
Restricted stock awards - beginning balance (in shares) 4,539,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber      
Granted (in shares) 1,092,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod      
Vested (in shares) (1,867,000)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriod      
Forfeited (in shares) (70,000)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeitedInPeriod      
Restricted stock awards - ending balance (in shares) 3,694,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber 4,539,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedNumber    
Weighted average grant date fair value per award [Roll Forward]        
Weighted average grant date fair value of restricted stock awards - beginning of period (in dollars per share) $ 48us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue      
Weighted average grant date fair value of restricted stock awards - shares granted (in dollars per share) $ 64us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue      
Weighted average grant date fair value of restricted stock awards - shares vested (in dollars per share) $ 42us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue      
Weighted average grant date fair value of restricted stock awards - shares forfeited (in dollars per share) $ 52us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsForfeituresWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue      
Weighted average grant date fair value of restricted stock awards - end of period (in dollars per share) $ 56us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue $ 48us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsNonvestedWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue    
Summary of stock option plan activity [Roll Forward]        
Options - beginning balance (in shares) 42,832,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber      
Granted (in shares) 9,036,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod      
Shares issued for stock options (in shares) (8,526,000)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised      
Forfeited or expired (in shares) (440,000)us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriod      
Options - ending balance (in shares) 42,902,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber 42,832,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingNumber    
Options exercisable (in shares) 24,946,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableNumber      
Additional disclosures pertaining to stock options [Abstract]        
Weighted average exercise price of options - beginning of period (in dollars per share) $ 47us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice      
Weighted average exercise price of options - shares granted (in dollars per share) $ 64us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice      
Weighted average exercise price of options - shares exercised (in dollars per share) $ 41us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice      
Weighted average exercise price of options - shares forfeited or expired (in dollars per share) $ 57us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsForfeituresAndExpirationsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice      
Weighted average exercise price of options - end of period (in dollars per share) $ 52us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice $ 47us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingWeightedAverageExercisePrice    
Weighted average exercise price of options exercisable - end of period (in dollars per share) $ 46us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableWeightedAverageExercisePrice      
Weighted average remaining contractual life, options outstanding (in years) 4 years      
Weighted average remaining contractual life, options exercisable (in years) 3 years      
Value of unexercised in-the-money options, options outstanding 746us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsOutstandingIntrinsicValue      
Value of unexercised in-the-money options, options exercisable 582us-gaap_SharebasedCompensationArrangementBySharebasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisableIntrinsicValue1      
Stock-based compensation, additional disclosures [Abstract]        
Employee Service Share-based Compensation, Tax Benefit Realized from Exercise of Stock Options 63us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitRealizedFromExerciseOfStockOptions 51us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitRealizedFromExerciseOfStockOptions 60us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationTaxBenefitRealizedFromExerciseOfStockOptions  
Proceeds from Stock Options Exercised 314us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised 289us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised 409us-gaap_ProceedsFromStockOptionsExercised  
Program 2011 [Member]        
Stock Repurchases [Abstract]        
Treasury stock repurchase authorization (in shares) 50,000,000us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramNumberOfSharesAuthorizedToBeRepurchased
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cl_Program2011Member		      
Incentive Stock Plans [Member]        
Additional disclosures pertaining to restricted stock awards [Abstract]        
Number of shares available for grant (in shares) 12,414,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cl_IncentiveStockPlansMember		      
Unrecognized compensation expense 63us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cl_IncentiveStockPlansMember		      
Unrecognized compensation expense, weighted-average period of recognition in years 2 years 1 month 6 days      
Total fair value of shares vested 71us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cl_IncentiveStockPlansMember		 69us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cl_IncentiveStockPlansMember		 63us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsVestedInPeriodTotalFairValue
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cl_IncentiveStockPlansMember		  
Stock Option Plans [Member]        
Additional disclosures pertaining to restricted stock awards [Abstract]        
Number of shares available for grant (in shares) 46,062,000us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardNumberOfSharesAvailableForGrant
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cl_StockOptionPlansMember		      
Unrecognized compensation expense 46us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cl_StockOptionPlansMember		      
Unrecognized compensation expense, weighted-average period of recognition in years 1 year 6 months      
Stock-based compensation, additional disclosures [Abstract]        
Contractual term (in years) 6 years      
Vesting period (in years) 3 years      
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Options, Exercises in Period, Total Intrinsic Value 211us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cl_StockOptionPlansMember		 180us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cl_StockOptionPlansMember		 210us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExercisesInPeriodTotalIntrinsicValue
/ us-gaap_PlanNameAxis
= cl_StockOptionPlansMember		  
Program 2015 [Member] | Subsequent Event [Member]        
Stock-based compensation, additional disclosures [Abstract]        
Stock Repurchase Program, Authorized Amount       $ 5,000us-gaap_StockRepurchaseProgramAuthorizedAmount1
/ us-gaap_ShareRepurchaseProgramAxis
= cl_Program2015Member
/ us-gaap_SubsequentEventTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SubsequentEventMember