Consolidated Income Statement - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
Net Sales	$ 5,010	$ 4,683	$ 14,475	$ 14,304
Cost of products sold	3,527	3,093	9,923	9,146
Gross Profit	1,483	1,590	4,552	5,158
Marketing, research and general expenses	819	919	2,488	2,636
Other (income) and expense, net	7	5	24	27
Operating Profit	657	666	2,040	2,495
Nonoperating expense	(10)	(40)	(71)	(57)
Interest income	1	2	4	6
Interest expense	(64)	(62)	(192)	(188)
Income Before Income Taxes and Equity Interests	584	566	1,781	2,256
Provision for income taxes	(126)	(114)	(386)	(510)
Income Before Equity Interests	458	452	1,395	1,746
Share of net income of equity companies	21	31	88	104
Net income	479	483	1,483	1,850
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(10)	(11)	(26)	(37)
Net Income Attributable to Kimberly-Clark Corporation	$ 469	$ 472	$ 1,457	$ 1,813
Per Share Basis
Basic	$ 1.39	$ 1.38	$ 4.32	$ 5.32
Diluted	$ 1.39	$ 1.38	$ 4.31	$ 5.30

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.