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 (Loss) [Member]	Unrealized Gains (Losses) on Investments [Member]	Cumulative Translation Adjustments [Member]	Pension and other Postretirement Benefit Plans [Member]	Accumulated Derivative Gain (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				13
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	9													9
Net Income available for The Dow Chemical Company common stockholders	1,544					1,544
Dividends declared on common stock (Per share: $0.65 in 2011, $0.45 in 2010)						(507)
Other						(15)								27
Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments	35							35
Adjustments to pension and other postretirement benefit plans	201									201
Net hedging results	0										(15)
Reclassification to earnings											15
Purchases													(14)
Issuance to employees and employee plans													258
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(7)													(7)
Translation adjustments	(154)								(154)
Capital contributions	0													0
Consolidation of variable interest entity														0
Conversion of note payable to preferred shares of a subsidiary														0
Impact of adoption of ASU 2009-17, net of tax						(248)								100
Common stock issued					79
Stock-based compensation and allocation of ESOP shares					124
Shares Acquired												(1)
Shares Allocated to ESOP participants												36
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending at Sep. 30, 2010		21,906	4,000	2,919	2,116	17,478	(3,810)	114	470	(4,386)	(8)	(484)	(313)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending at Sep. 30, 2010														698
Total Equity at Sep. 30, 2010	22,604
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				23
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	24													24
Net Income available for The Dow Chemical Company common stockholders	2,422					2,422
Dividends declared on common stock (Per share: $0.65 in 2011, $0.45 in 2010)						(748)
Other						(10)								(13)
Net change in unrealized gains (losses) on investments	(78)							(78)
Adjustments to pension and other postretirement benefit plans	209									209
Net hedging results	9										6
Reclassification to earnings											3
Purchases													(19)
Issuance to employees and employee plans													258
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(34)													(34)
Translation adjustments	(31)								(31)
Capital contributions	20													20
Consolidation of variable interest entity														31
Conversion of note payable to preferred shares of a subsidiary														158
Impact of adoption of ASU 2009-17, net of tax						0								0
Common stock issued					161
Stock-based compensation and allocation of ESOP shares					79
Shares Acquired												0
Shares Allocated to ESOP participants												38
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending at Sep. 30, 2011	24,152	24,152	4,000	2,954	2,526	19,400	(4,290)	33	336	(4,662)	3	(438)	0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending at Sep. 30, 2011	989													989
Total Equity at Sep. 30, 2011	$ 25,141