Stockholders' Equity Components of Stockholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Unrealized translation	$ (107)	$ (922)	$ (835)
Change in AOCI	(196)	34	(1,070)
Defined Benefit Pension Plans
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
2015 U.S. plan settlements (recorded in Other (income) and expense, net)	1	1,357	20
Defined benefit pension plans, tax effect	28	(547)	167
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net of Tax	(84)	911	(256)
Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
2015 U.S. plan settlements (recorded in Other (income) and expense, net)	0	0	0
Defined benefit pension plans, tax effect	17	(21)	14
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net of Tax	(28)	34	(22)
Other (Income) And Expense, Net
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Other	0	(11)	9
Attributable to Kimberly-Clark
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Unrealized translation, before tax	(88)	(882)	(826)
Unrealized translation, tax effect	(11)	(23)	7
Unrealized translation	(99)	(905)	(819)
Unrecognized net actuarial loss and transition amount | Defined Benefit Pension Plans
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Funded status recognition	(230)	(4)	(624)
Amortization included in net periodic benefit cost	52	75	100
2015 U.S. plan settlements (recorded in Other (income) and expense, net)	0	(1,355)	0
Currency and other	81	42	69
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, before Tax	(97)	1,468	(455)
Unrecognized net actuarial loss and transition amount | Other Postretirement Benefit Plans
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Unrecognized net actuarial loss and transition amount ant other	(45)	55	(36)
Unrecognized prior service cost | Defined Benefit Pension Plans
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Funded status recognition	(1)	4	42
Currency and other	(6)	(2)	(3)
Amortization included in net periodic benefit cost	(8)	(12)	(7)
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, before Tax	(15)	(10)	32
Cash Flow Hedges and Other
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Currency and other	(4)	(7)	2
Recognition of effective portion of hedges	44	66	18
Amortization included in net income	(20)	(53)	(5)
Cash flow hedges and other, tax effect	(5)	(1)	3
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Net of Tax	$ 15	$ 5	$ 18