Consolidated Income Statement - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2017
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net Sales	$ 4,582	$ 4,665	$ 13,917	$ 13,745
Cost of products sold	3,166	2,998	9,722	8,766
Gross Profit	1,416	1,667	4,195	4,979
Marketing, research and general expenses	749	807	2,599	2,449
Other (income) and expense, net	(2)	(8)	6	0
Operating Profit	669	868	1,590	2,530
Nonoperating expense	(30)	(14)	(75)	(43)
Interest income	2	3	7	7
Interest expense	(64)	(78)	(198)	(246)
Income Before Income Taxes and Equity Interests	577	779	1,324	2,248
Provision for income taxes	(138)	(224)	(380)	(633)
Income Before Equity Interests	439	555	944	1,615
Share of net income of equity companies	23	24	80	79
Net Income	462	579	1,024	1,694
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(11)	(12)	(25)	(33)
Net Income Attributable to Kimberly-Clark Corporation	$ 451	$ 567	$ 999	$ 1,661
Per Share Basis
Basic	$ 1.30	$ 1.61	$ 2.86	$ 4.69
Diluted	1.29	1.60	2.85	4.66
Cash Dividends Declared	$ 1.00	$ 0.97	$ 3.00	$ 2.91

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.