Consolidated Income Statement - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net Sales	$ 4,476	$ 4,691
Cost of products sold	2,837	3,032
Gross Profit	1,639	1,659
Marketing, research and general expenses	825	849
Other (income) and expense, net	10	62
Operating Profit	804	748
Interest income	4	4
Interest expense	(76)	(72)
Income Before Income Taxes and Equity Interests	732	680
Provision for income taxes	(207)	(230)
Income Before Equity Interests	525	450
Share of net income of equity companies	35	36
Net Income	560	486
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(15)	(18)
Net Income Attributable to Kimberly-Clark Corporation	$ 545	$ 468
Per Share Basis
Basic	$ 1.51	$ 1.28
Diluted	1.50	1.27
Cash Dividends Declared	$ 0.92	$ 0.88

Income Before Equity Interest and Extraordinary Loss

No definition available.

Name:	kmb_IncomeBeforeEquityInterestAndExtraordinaryLoss
Namespace Prefix:	kmb_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate total costs related to selling a firm's product and services, as well as all other general and administrative expenses. Direct selling expenses (for example, credit, warranty, and advertising) are expenses that can be directly linked to the sale of specific products. Indirect selling expenses are expenses that cannot be directly linked to the sale of specific products, for example telephone expenses, Internet, and postal charges. The aggregate costs incurred in a planned search or critical investigation aimed at discovery of new knowledge with the hope that such knowledge will be useful in developing a new product or service, a new process or technique, or in bringing about a significant improvement to an existing product or process. General and administrative expenses include salaries of non-sales personnel, rent, utilities, communication, etc.

+ References

No definition available.