Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $) In Millions	Total	The Dow Chemical Company's Stockholder's Equity [Member]	Preferred Stock [Member]	Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Member]	Unrealized Gains on Investments [Member]	Cumulative Translation Adjustments [Member]	Pension and other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member]	Accumulated Derivative Loss [Member]	Unearned ESOP Shares [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Beginning at Dec. 31, 2009			$ 4,000	$ 2,906	$ 1,913	$ 16,704		$ 79	$ 624	$ (4,587)	$ (8)	$ (519)	$ (557)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Beginning at Dec. 31, 2009														569
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common stock issued				11
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	9													9
Net Income available for The Dow Chemical Company common stockholders	1,032					1,032
Dividends declared on common stock (Per share: $0.40 in 2011, $0.30 in 2010)						(337)
Other						(11)								4
Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments	(19)							(19)
Adjustments to pension and other postretirement benefit plans	149									149
Net hedging results	4										(3)
Reclassification to earnings											7
Purchases													(13)
Issuance to employees and employee plans													251
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(5)													(5)
Translation adjustments	(1,022)								(1,022)
Capital contributions	0													0
Consolidation of variable interest entity														0
Impact of adoption of ASU 2009-17, net of tax						(248)								100
Common stock issued					68
Stock-based compensation and allocation of ESOP shares					44
Shares Allocated to ESOP participants												26
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending at Jun. 30, 2010		20,490	4,000	2,917	2,025	17,140	(4,780)	60	(398)	(4,438)	(4)	(493)	(319)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending at Jun. 30, 2010														677
Total Equity at Jun. 30, 2010	21,167
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Beginning at Dec. 31, 2010	21,839		4,000	2,931	2,286	17,736		111	367	(4,871)	(6)	(476)	(239)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Beginning at Dec. 31, 2010	803													803
Balance at Beginning of Year at Dec. 31, 2010	22,642
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common stock issued				22
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	21													21
Net Income available for The Dow Chemical Company common stockholders	1,607					1,607
Dividends declared on common stock (Per share: $0.40 in 2011, $0.30 in 2010)						(460)
Other						(6)								1
Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments	6							6
Adjustments to pension and other postretirement benefit plans	141									141
Net hedging results	5										(2)
Reclassification to earnings											7
Purchases													(19)
Issuance to employees and employee plans													258
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(22)													(22)
Translation adjustments	600								600
Capital contributions	20													20
Consolidation of variable interest entity														31
Impact of adoption of ASU 2009-17, net of tax						0								0
Common stock issued					149
Stock-based compensation and allocation of ESOP shares					15
Shares Allocated to ESOP participants												28
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending at Jun. 30, 2011	24,185	24,185	4,000	2,953	2,450	18,877	(3,647)	117	967	(4,730)	(1)	(448)	0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending at Jun. 30, 2011	854													854
Total Equity at Jun. 30, 2011	$ 25,039