XML 43 R31.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.8.0.1

Recent Accounting Pronouncements and Updated Accounting Policies (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended
--- | ---
Mar. 31, 2018 | Mar. 31, 2017
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |
Selling, general and administrative expenses | $ 1,392 | $ 1,336 | [1]
Other (income) expense, net | 33 | 21 | [1]
Accounting Standards Update 2018-02 |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |
Tax reform, reclassification from AOCI to retained earnings, tax effect | $ 163 |  |
Reclassifying Adjustment | Accounting Standards Update 2017-07 |  |  |
New Accounting Pronouncements or Change in Accounting Principle [Line Items] |  |  |
Selling, general and administrative expenses |  | 26 |
Other (income) expense, net |  | $ 1 |
[1] | Prior year amounts have been reclassified to conform to the current year presentation as a result of the adoption of 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.” For further information regarding the impact of the reclassification, see Note 1, Basis of Presentation, Note 3, Recent Accounting Pronouncements and Updated Accounting Policies and Note 13, Segment Information to the Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements.

X
- Definition Tax Cuts And Jobs Act Of 2017, Reclassification From AOCI To Retained Earnings, Tax Effect + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | cl_TaxCutsAndJobsActOf2017ReclassificationFromAOCIToRetainedEarningsTaxEffect
Namespace Prefix: | cl_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_NewAccountingPronouncementsOrChangeInAccountingPrincipleLineItems
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition The net amount of other operating income and expenses, the components of which are not separately disclosed on the income statement, from items that are associated with the entity's normal revenue producing operations. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_OtherOperatingIncomeExpenseNet
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- 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. General and administrative expenses include salaries of non-sales personnel, rent, utilities, communication, etc. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 225 -SubTopic 10 -Section S99 -Paragraph 2 -Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.4) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=63488584&loc=d3e20235-122688 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 330 -SubTopic 10 -Section 30 -Paragraph 8 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=68048583&loc=d3e3636-108311 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_SellingGeneralAndAdministrativeExpense
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=cl_AccountingStandardsUpdate201802Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_StatementScenarioAxis=us-gaap_RestatementAdjustmentMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_AdjustmentsForNewAccountingPronouncementsAxis=cl_AccountingStandardsUpdate201707Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |