Accounting Policies	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2018
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Accounting Policies	Accounting Policies Basis of Presentation The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") for interim financial information and instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all material adjustments which are of a normal and recurring nature necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the periods presented have been reflected. Dollar amounts are reported in millions, except per share dollar amounts, unless otherwise noted. For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in our Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2017. The terms "Corporation," "Kimberly-Clark," "K-C," "we," "our" and "us" refer to Kimberly-Clark Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries. In prior years, we followed an accounting practice whereby costs associated with sales of K-C Professional dispensers were classified as a reduction in revenue, similar to sales incentives. Effective January 1, 2018, we changed this practice and now classify these costs as cost of products sold. This change resulted in an immaterial increase in net sales and cost of products sold and all applicable amounts included in this filing have been recast accordingly. Recently Adopted Accounting Standards The Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2017-07, Compensation-Retirement Benefits (Topic 715), Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. The standard requires that an employer report the service cost component in the same line items as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. The other components of net benefit cost are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside of operating profit (presented as "Nonoperating expense" in our consolidated income statement). We adopted this standard as of January 1, 2018 and applied the amendments retrospectively, and all applicable amounts included in this filing have been recast accordingly. We used the practical expedient that permits us to use the amounts previously disclosed in our employee postretirement benefits note for the prior comparative periods as the basis for applying the retrospective presentation requirements. The FASB issued ASU No. 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory, which removes the prohibition in ASC 740 against the immediate recognition of the current and deferred income tax effects of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. We adopted this standard as of January 1, 2018 on a modified retrospective basis and recorded an immaterial cumulative adjustment to retained earnings. The FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which provides a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. We adopted this ASU effective January 1, 2018 on a full retrospective basis. Adoption of this standard did not result in significant changes to our accounting policies, business processes, systems or controls, or have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows or related disclosures. As such, prior period financial statements were not recast. We primarily generate revenue from the sale of finished products and recognize revenue at the time of product shipment or delivery, depending on when control passes. Rebate and promotion accruals are based on estimates of the quantity of customer sales. Promotion accruals also consider estimates of the number of consumer coupons that will be redeemed and timing and costs of activities within the promotional programs. The cost of promotion activities provided to customers is classified as a reduction in sales revenue. Under ASU No. 2014-09, effective January 1, 2018 for interim reporting, the estimated redemption value of consumer coupons and related expense are recorded when the related revenue from customers is recognized. In prior years, these costs were recognized at the time of coupon issuance. The impact of this change was not material. Accounting Standards Issued - Not Yet Adopted The FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. The standard will permit entities to reclassify tax effects stranded in accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI") as a result of U.S. tax reform to retained earnings. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The effects of this standard on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows are not expected to be material. The FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. The standard makes more financial and non-financial hedging strategies eligible for hedge accounting, amends the presentation and disclosure requirements and changes how companies assess effectiveness. For public companies, this ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted in any interim period. The effects of this standard on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows are not expected to be material. The FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). Under the new guidance, a lessee will be required to recognize assets and liabilities for all leases with lease terms of more than 12 months. Consistent with current GAAP, the recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee primarily will depend on its classification as a finance or operating lease. The ASU requires additional disclosures. The standard is effective for public companies for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The ASU requires adoption based upon a modified retrospective transition approach. The effects of this standard on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows are not yet known.

Accounting Policies

Basis of Presentation

The accompanying unaudited consolidated financial statements have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America ("GAAP") for interim financial information and instructions to Form 10-Q and Article 10 of Regulation S-X. Accordingly, they do not include all of the information and footnotes required by GAAP for complete financial statements. In the opinion of management, all material adjustments which are of a normal and recurring nature necessary for a fair presentation of the results for the periods presented have been reflected. Dollar amounts are reported in millions, except per share dollar amounts, unless otherwise noted.

For further information, refer to the consolidated financial statements and footnotes included in our Annual Report on Form 10‑K for the year ended December 31, 2017. The terms "Corporation," "Kimberly-Clark," "K-C," "we," "our" and "us" refer to Kimberly-Clark Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries.

In prior years, we followed an accounting practice whereby costs associated with sales of K-C Professional dispensers were classified as a reduction in revenue, similar to sales incentives. Effective January 1, 2018, we changed this practice and now classify these costs as cost of products sold. This change resulted in an immaterial increase in net sales and cost of products sold and all applicable amounts included in this filing have been recast accordingly.

Recently Adopted Accounting Standards

The Financial Accounting Standards Board (the "FASB") issued Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") No. 2017-07, Compensation-Retirement Benefits (Topic 715), Improving the Presentation of Net Periodic Pension Cost and Net Periodic Postretirement Benefit Cost. The standard requires that an employer report the service cost component in the same line items as other compensation costs arising from services rendered by the pertinent employees during the period. The other components of net benefit cost are required to be presented in the income statement separately from the service cost component and outside of operating profit (presented as "Nonoperating expense" in our consolidated income statement). We adopted this standard as of January 1, 2018 and applied the amendments retrospectively, and all applicable amounts included in this filing have been recast accordingly. We used the practical expedient that permits us to use the amounts previously disclosed in our employee postretirement benefits note for the prior comparative periods as the basis for applying the retrospective presentation requirements.

The FASB issued ASU No. 2016-16, Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory, which removes the prohibition in ASC 740 against the immediate recognition of the current and deferred income tax effects of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. We adopted this standard as of January 1, 2018 on a modified retrospective basis and recorded an immaterial cumulative adjustment to retained earnings.

The FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, which provides a single comprehensive model for entities to use in accounting for revenue arising from contracts with customers. We adopted this ASU effective January 1, 2018 on a full retrospective basis. Adoption of this standard did not result in significant changes to our accounting policies, business processes, systems or controls, or have a material impact on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows or related disclosures. As such, prior period financial statements were not recast. We primarily generate revenue from the sale of finished products and recognize revenue at the time of product shipment or delivery, depending on when control passes. Rebate and promotion accruals are based on estimates of the quantity of customer sales. Promotion accruals also consider estimates of the number of consumer coupons that will be redeemed and timing and costs of activities within the promotional programs. The cost of promotion activities provided to customers is classified as a reduction in sales revenue. Under ASU No. 2014-09, effective January 1, 2018 for interim reporting, the estimated redemption value of consumer coupons and related expense are recorded when the related revenue from customers is recognized. In prior years, these costs were recognized at the time of coupon issuance. The impact of this change was not material.

Accounting Standards Issued - Not Yet Adopted

The FASB issued ASU No. 2018-02, Income Statement-Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220): Reclassification of Certain Tax Effects from Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income. The standard will permit entities to reclassify tax effects stranded in accumulated other comprehensive income ("AOCI") as a result of U.S. tax reform to retained earnings. The standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The effects of this standard on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows are not expected to be material.

The FASB issued ASU No. 2017-12, Derivatives and Hedging (Topic 815): Targeted Improvements to Accounting for Hedging Activities. The standard makes more financial and non-financial hedging strategies eligible for hedge accounting, amends the presentation and disclosure requirements and changes how companies assess effectiveness. For public companies, this ASU is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted in any interim period. The effects of this standard on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows are not expected to be material.

The FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, Leases (Topic 842). Under the new guidance, a lessee will be required to recognize assets and liabilities for all leases with lease terms of more than 12 months. Consistent with current GAAP, the recognition, measurement, and presentation of expenses and cash flows arising from a lease by a lessee primarily will depend on its classification as a finance or operating lease. The ASU requires additional disclosures. The standard is effective for public companies for fiscal years, and interim periods within those fiscal years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The ASU requires adoption based upon a modified retrospective transition approach. The effects of this standard on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows are not yet known.