Consolidated Income Statement - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net Sales	$ 4,594	$ 4,604	$ 9,227	$ 9,335
Cost of products sold	3,108	3,149	6,313	6,556
Gross Profit	1,486	1,455	2,914	2,779
Marketing, research and general expenses	811	771	1,580	1,850
Other (income) and expense, net	5	10	9	8
Operating Profit	670	674	1,325	921
Nonoperating expense	(11)	(36)	(22)	(45)
Interest income	2	3	5	5
Interest expense	(67)	(68)	(132)	(134)
Income Before Income Taxes and Equity Interests	594	573	1,176	747
Provision for income taxes	(132)	(138)	(275)	(242)
Income Before Equity Interests	462	435	901	505
Share of net income of equity companies	33	30	60	57
Net Income	495	465	961	562
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(10)	(10)	(22)	(14)
Net Income Attributable to Kimberly-Clark Corporation	$ 485	$ 455	$ 939	$ 548
Per Share Basis
Basic	$ 1.41	$ 1.30	$ 2.73	$ 1.57
Diluted	$ 1.40	$ 1.30	$ 2.71	$ 1.56

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.