Accounting Policies Accounting (Policies)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2014
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Significant Accounting Policies	Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all material adjustments which are of a normal and recurring nature necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the periods presented have been reflected. Dollar amounts are reported in millions, except per share dollar amounts, unless otherwise noted. For further information, refer to the Consolidated Financial Statements and footnotes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. The terms "Corporation," "Kimberly-Clark," "K-C," "we," "our" and "us" refer to Kimberly-Clark Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries. Annual Goodwill Impairment Test Goodwill is tested for impairment annually and whenever events and circumstances indicate that impairment may have occurred. For 2014, we have completed the required annual testing of goodwill for impairment for all reporting units using the beginning of the third quarter as the measurement date and have determined that goodwill is not impaired. The fair value for all reporting units was in excess of the book value. Highly Inflationary Accounting for Venezuelan Operations We account for our operations in Venezuela using highly inflationary accounting. On February 13, 2013, the Venezuelan government announced a devaluation of the Central Bank of Venezuela ("Central Bank") regulated currency exchange system rate to 6.3 bolivars per U.S. dollar and the elimination of the SITME rate. As a result of the devaluation, we recorded a $26 after-tax charge ($36 pre-tax) related to the remeasurement of the local currency-denominated balance sheet to the new exchange rate in the quarter ended March 31, 2013. Prior to this devaluation, we used the Central Bank SITME rate of 5.4 bolivars per U.S. dollar to measure K-C Venezuela's bolivar-denominated transactions into U.S. dollars. The $36 pre-tax charge is reflected in the Consolidated Income Statement in other (income) and expense, net for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. In the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement, this non-cash charge is included in other in cash provided by operations. During March 2013, the Venezuelan government announced a complementary currency exchange system, SICAD. Participation in SICAD is controlled by the Venezuelan government. SICAD is intended to function as an auction system, allowing entities in specific sectors to bid for U.S. dollars to be used for specified import transactions. In February 2014, the president of Venezuela announced that another exchange system (referred to as SICAD 2) would be initiated. Initial exchanges under SICAD 2 began on March 24, 2014. We measure results in Venezuela at the rate in which we transact our business. Since March 2013, exchange transactions have taken place through letters of credit which resulted in an effective exchange rate of 6.3 bolivars per U.S. dollar and through approved transactions using the regulated currency exchange system, which were also at a 6.3 exchange rate. To date, we have not gained access to U.S. dollars in Venezuela through either SICAD or SICAD 2 auctions. Whether we will be able to access either SICAD system in the foreseeable future and what volume of currency exchange will transact through these alternative mechanisms is unclear. Accordingly, we continued to measure K-C Venezuela operations at the rate of 6.3 bolivars per U.S. dollar through September 30, 2014. Through September 30, 2014 we continued to manufacture products in Venezuela as well as import finished goods under approved letters of credit. However, recent government approvals to import raw materials under letters of credit are not at a level sufficient to sustain all of our manufacturing capabilities in country. Unless we are able to obtain further approvals to import raw materials through approved letters of credit or through the official government exchange system, we may be forced to curtail some or all of our local manufacturing until such approvals to import additional raw materials are forthcoming. We continue to seek approval for additional imports, as well as monitor the financial policies and practices of the Venezuelan government to assess the impact on our US GAAP accounting and reporting for our operations in that country. At September 30, 2014, K-C Venezuela had a bolivar-denominated net monetary asset position (primarily cash) of $435, and our net investment in K-C Venezuela was $572, both valued at 6.3 bolivars per U.S. dollar. Net sales of K-C Venezuela represented less than 3 percent of consolidated net sales in 2014 and approximately 2 percent in 2013. New Accounting Standards In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which provides a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and will supersede most current revenue recognition guidance. The standard is effective for public entities for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is not permitted. The guidance permits two implementation approaches, one requiring retrospective application of the new standard with restatement of prior years and one requiring prospective application of the new standard with disclosure of results under old standards. The effects of this standard on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows are not yet known.

Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited Consolidated Financial Statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") for interim financial information and with the instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all material adjustments which are of a normal and recurring nature necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the periods presented have been reflected. Dollar amounts are reported in millions, except per share dollar amounts, unless otherwise noted.

For further information, refer to the Consolidated Financial Statements and footnotes included in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2013. The terms "Corporation," "Kimberly-Clark," "K-C," "we," "our" and "us" refer to Kimberly-Clark Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.

Annual Goodwill Impairment Test

Goodwill is tested for impairment annually and whenever events and circumstances indicate that impairment may have occurred. For 2014, we have completed the required annual testing of goodwill for impairment for all reporting units using the beginning of the third quarter as the measurement date and have determined that goodwill is not impaired. The fair value for all reporting units was in excess of the book value.

Highly Inflationary Accounting for Venezuelan Operations

We account for our operations in Venezuela using highly inflationary accounting. On February 13, 2013, the Venezuelan government announced a devaluation of the Central Bank of Venezuela ("Central Bank") regulated currency exchange system rate to 6.3 bolivars per U.S. dollar and the elimination of the SITME rate. As a result of the devaluation, we recorded a $26 after-tax charge ($36 pre-tax) related to the remeasurement of the local currency-denominated balance sheet to the new exchange rate in the quarter ended March 31, 2013. Prior to this devaluation, we used the Central Bank SITME rate of 5.4 bolivars per U.S. dollar to measure K-C Venezuela's bolivar-denominated transactions into U.S. dollars. The $36 pre-tax charge is reflected in the Consolidated Income Statement in other (income) and expense, net for the nine months ended September 30, 2013. In the Consolidated Cash Flow Statement, this non-cash charge is included in other in cash provided by operations.

During March 2013, the Venezuelan government announced a complementary currency exchange system, SICAD. Participation in SICAD is controlled by the Venezuelan government. SICAD is intended to function as an auction system, allowing entities in specific sectors to bid for U.S. dollars to be used for specified import transactions. In February 2014, the president of Venezuela announced that another exchange system (referred to as SICAD 2) would be initiated. Initial exchanges under SICAD 2 began on March 24, 2014.

We measure results in Venezuela at the rate in which we transact our business. Since March 2013, exchange transactions have taken place through letters of credit which resulted in an effective exchange rate of 6.3 bolivars per U.S. dollar and through approved transactions using the regulated currency exchange system, which were also at a 6.3 exchange rate. To date, we have not gained access to U.S. dollars in Venezuela through either SICAD or SICAD 2 auctions. Whether we will be able to access either SICAD system in the foreseeable future and what volume of currency exchange will transact through these alternative mechanisms is unclear. Accordingly, we continued to measure K-C Venezuela operations at the rate of 6.3 bolivars per U.S. dollar through September 30, 2014.

Through September 30, 2014 we continued to manufacture products in Venezuela as well as import finished goods under approved letters of credit. However, recent government approvals to import raw materials under letters of credit are not at a level sufficient to sustain all of our manufacturing capabilities in country. Unless we are able to obtain further approvals to import raw materials through approved letters of credit or through the official government exchange system, we may be forced to curtail some or all of our local manufacturing until such approvals to import additional raw materials are forthcoming. We continue to seek approval for additional imports, as well as monitor the financial policies and practices of the Venezuelan government to assess the impact on our US GAAP accounting and reporting for our operations in that country.

At September 30, 2014, K-C Venezuela had a bolivar-denominated net monetary asset position (primarily cash) of $435, and our net investment in K-C Venezuela was $572, both valued at 6.3 bolivars per U.S. dollar. Net sales of K-C Venezuela represented less than 3 percent of consolidated net sales in 2014 and approximately 2 percent in 2013.

New Accounting Standards

In May 2014, the Financial Accounting Standards Board issued Accounting Standards Update No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which provides a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers and will supersede most current revenue recognition guidance. The standard is effective for public entities for annual and interim periods beginning after December 15, 2016. Early adoption is not permitted. The guidance permits two implementation approaches, one requiring retrospective application of the new standard with restatement of prior years and one requiring prospective application of the new standard with disclosure of results under old standards. The effects of this standard on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows are not yet known.