Legal Matters	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Legal Matters and Contingencies	Legal Matters We are subject to various legal proceedings, claims and governmental inquiries, inspections, audits or investigations pertaining to issues such as contract disputes, product liability, tax matters, patents and trademarks, advertising, pricing, business practices, governmental regulations, employment and other matters. We are party to certain legal proceedings relating to our former healthcare business, Avanos Medical, Inc. ("Avanos", previously Halyard Health, Inc.), as described in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. During the first quarter of 2018, in the California consumer class action Bahamas Surgery Center v. Kimberly-Clark Corporation, et al., the Court reduced the punitive damages award against Kimberly- Clark from $350 to approximately $19. As a result, the total compensatory and punitive damages plus pre-judgment interest awarded against Kimberly-Clark is approximately $25. We intend to continue our vigorous defense of the Bahamas matter. As previously disclosed, we have received subpoena and document requests from the federal government relating to our former healthcare business, Avanos. In the third quarter of 2018, we received an additional subpoena from the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding these investigations. The subpoenas concern allegations of potential criminal and civil violations of federal laws, including the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, in connection with the manufacturing, marketing and sale of surgical gowns by our former healthcare business. We continue to produce documents and cooperate in this ongoing investigation. At this stage, we are unable to predict an outcome or estimate the potential range of outcomes to resolve this matter. Under the terms of the distribution agreement we entered into with Avanos in connection with the spin-off that occurred on October 31, 2014, Avanos is obligated to indemnify us for legal proceedings, claims and other liabilities primarily related to our former healthcare business. Avanos and Kimberly-Clark have each filed suits against the other seeking declaratory judgment regarding the scope of these indemnification obligations. We intend to vigorously pursue our case against Avanos and to vigorously defend their case against us.

Legal Matters

We are subject to various legal proceedings, claims and governmental inquiries, inspections, audits or investigations pertaining to issues such as contract disputes, product liability, tax matters, patents and trademarks, advertising, pricing, business practices, governmental regulations, employment and other matters.

We are party to certain legal proceedings relating to our former healthcare business, Avanos Medical, Inc. ("Avanos", previously Halyard Health, Inc.), as described in our Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017. During the first quarter of 2018, in the California consumer class action Bahamas Surgery Center v. Kimberly-Clark Corporation, et al., the Court reduced the punitive damages award against Kimberly- Clark from $350 to approximately $19. As a result, the total compensatory and punitive damages plus pre-judgment interest awarded against Kimberly-Clark is approximately $25. We intend to continue our vigorous defense of the Bahamas matter.

As previously disclosed, we have received subpoena and document requests from the federal government relating to our former healthcare business, Avanos. In the third quarter of 2018, we received an additional subpoena from the United States Department of Justice (DOJ) regarding these investigations. The subpoenas concern allegations of potential criminal and civil violations of federal laws, including the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act, in connection with the manufacturing, marketing and sale of surgical gowns by our former healthcare business. We continue to produce documents and cooperate in this ongoing investigation. At this stage, we are unable to predict an outcome or estimate the potential range of outcomes to resolve this matter.

Under the terms of the distribution agreement we entered into with Avanos in connection with the spin-off that occurred on October 31, 2014, Avanos is obligated to indemnify us for legal proceedings, claims and other liabilities primarily related to our former healthcare business. Avanos and Kimberly-Clark have each filed suits against the other seeking declaratory judgment regarding the scope of these indemnification obligations. We intend to vigorously pursue our case against Avanos and to vigorously defend their case against us.