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Stockholders' Equity Components of Stockholders' Equity (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 12 Months Ended
--- | ---
Dec. 31, 2017 | Dec. 31, 2016 | Dec. 31, 2015
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) |  |  |  |
Unrealized translation |  | $ 517 | $ (107) | $ (922)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax |  | 590 | (205) | 25
Change in AOCI |  | 555 | (196) | 34
Defined Benefit Pension Plans |  |  |  |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) |  |  |  |
2015 U.S. plan settlements (recorded in Other (income) and expense, net) |  | (7) | (1) | (1,357)
Defined benefit pension plans, tax effect |  | (32) | 28 | (547)
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net of Tax |  | 121 | (84) | 911
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 |  | 3 | 17 | (21)
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI, Pension and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans, Net of Tax |  | (8) | (28) | 34
Attributable to Kimberly-Clark |  |  |  |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) |  |  |  |
Unrealized translation, before tax |  | 398 | (88) | (882)
Unrealized translation, tax effect |  | 89 | (11) | (23)
Unrealized translation |  | 487 | (99) | (905)
Unrecognized net actuarial loss and transition amount | Defined Benefit Pension Plans |  |  |  |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) |  |  |  |
Funded status recognition |  | 159 | (230) | (4)
Amortization included in net periodic benefit cost |  | 63 | 52 | 75
2015 U.S. plan settlements (recorded in Other (income) and expense, net) |  | 0 | 0 | 1,355
Currency and other |  | (66) | 81 | 42
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI, Pension Plans, before Tax |  | 156 | (97) | 1,468
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 |  | (11) | (45) | 55
Unrecognized prior service cost | Defined Benefit Pension Plans |  |  |  |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) |  |  |  |
Funded status recognition |  | 2 | (1) | 4
Currency and other |  | 3 | (6) | (2)
Amortization included in net periodic benefit cost |  | (8) | (8) | (12)
Other Comprehensive (Income) Loss, Reclassification Adjustment from AOCI, Pension Plans, before Tax |  | (3) | (15) | (10)
Cash Flow Hedges and Other |  |  |  |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) |  |  |  |
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications |  | (56) | 33 |
Currency and other |  | (2) | (4) | (7)
Recognition of effective portion of hedges |  | (76) | 44 | 66
Amortization included in net income |  | 18 | (20) | (53)
Cash flow hedges and other, tax effect |  | 15 | (5) | (1)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Derivatives Qualifying as Hedges, Net of Tax |  | (45) | 15 | 5
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax |  | (45) | 15 |
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax |  | (11) | 18 |
Other (Income) And Expense, Net |  |  |  |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) |  |  |  |
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax |  | 0 | 0 | $ (11)
Unrealized Translation |  |  |  |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) |  |  |  |
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications |  | 487 | (99) |
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax |  | 487 | (99) |
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax |  | 0 | 0 |
Defined Benefit Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans | Defined Benefit Pension Plans |  |  |  |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) |  |  |  |
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications |  | 85 | (115) |
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax |  | 121 | (84) |
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax | [1] | (36) | (31) |
Defined Benefit Pension Plans and Other Postretirement Benefit Plans | Other Postretirement Benefit Plans |  |  |  |
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) |  |  |  |
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications |  | (7) | (27) |
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax |  | (8) | (28) |
Reclassification from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income, Current Period, Net of Tax | [1] | $ 1 | $ 1 |
[1] | Included in computation of net periodic pension and other postretirement benefits costs (see Note 6).

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