Consolidated Income Statement - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net Sales	$ 4,743	$ 5,009
Cost of products sold	3,154	3,218
Gross Profit	1,589	1,791
Marketing, research and general expenses	815	873
Other (income) and expense, net	4	14
Operating Profit	770	904
Nonoperating expense	(6)	(11)
Interest income	1	2
Interest expense	(63)	(61)
Income Before Income Taxes and Equity Interests	702	834
Provision for income taxes	(147)	(197)
Income Before Equity Interests	555	637
Share of net income of equity companies	39	38
Net income	594	675
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(10)	(15)
Net Income Attributable to Kimberly-Clark Corporation	$ 584	$ 660
Per Share Basis
Basic	$ 1.73	$ 1.93
Diluted	$ 1.72	$ 1.92

Income Before Equity Interest

No definition available.

Name:	kmb_IncomeBeforeEquityInterest
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.