Consolidated Statements of Equity (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	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 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, 2008			$ 0	$ 2,453	$ 872	$ 17,013		$ (111)	$ 221	$ (4,251)	$ (248)	$ 0	$ (2,438)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Beginning at Dec. 31, 2008														69
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock issued			7,000	453	2,643
Stock repurchased			(2,500)
Preferred stock converted to common stock			(500)
Sale of shares to ESOP					(1,529)
Stock-based compensation and allocation of ESOP shares					(73)
Net Income available for The Dow Chemical Company common stockholders	336					336
Dividends declared on common stock (Per share: $0.90 in 2011, $0.60 in 2010 and $0.60 in 2009)						(639)
Other						(6)								18
Impact of adoption of ASU 2009-17, net of tax						0								0
Net change in unrealized gains (losses)								190
Translation adjustments	403								403
Net prior service credit										19
Net loss										(355)
Net hedging results											(65)
Reclassification to earnings											305
Shares acquired												(553)
Shares allocated to ESOP participants												34
Purchases													(5)
Sale of shares to ESOP													1,529
Issuance to employees and employee plans													357
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	28													28
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(24)													(24)
Capital contributions	0													0
Acquisition of Rohm and Haas Company noncontrolling interests														432
Consolidation of variable interest entities														46
Debt Conversion, Converted Instrument, Amount														0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending at Dec. 31, 2009		20,555	4,000	2,906	1,913	16,704	(3,892)	79	624	(4,587)	(8)	(519)	(557)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending at Dec. 31, 2009														569
Total Equity at Dec. 31, 2009	21,124
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock issued			0	25	156
Stock repurchased			0
Preferred stock converted to common stock			0
Sale of shares to ESOP					0
Stock-based compensation and allocation of ESOP shares					217
Net Income available for The Dow Chemical Company common stockholders	1,970					1,970
Dividends declared on common stock (Per share: $0.90 in 2011, $0.60 in 2010 and $0.60 in 2009)						(677)
Other						(13)								22
Impact of adoption of ASU 2009-17, net of tax						(248)								100
Net change in unrealized gains (losses)								32
Translation adjustments	(257)								(257)
Net prior service credit										23
Net loss										(307)
Net hedging results											(13)
Reclassification to earnings											15
Shares acquired												(1)
Shares allocated to ESOP participants												44
Purchases													(14)
Sale of shares to ESOP													0
Issuance to employees and employee plans													332
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	11													11
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(8)													(8)
Capital contributions	100													0
Acquisition of Rohm and Haas Company noncontrolling interests														0
Consolidation of variable interest entities														109
Debt Conversion, Converted Instrument, Amount														0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending at Dec. 31, 2010	21,839	21,839	4,000	2,931	2,286	17,736	(4,399)	111	367	(4,871)	(6)	(476)	(239)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending at Dec. 31, 2010	803													803
Total Equity at Dec. 31, 2010	22,642
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock issued			0	30	206
Stock repurchased			0
Preferred stock converted to common stock			0
Sale of shares to ESOP					0
Stock-based compensation and allocation of ESOP shares					171
Net Income available for The Dow Chemical Company common stockholders	2,402					2,402
Dividends declared on common stock (Per share: $0.90 in 2011, $0.60 in 2010 and $0.60 in 2009)						(1,037)
Other						(14)								(18)
Impact of adoption of ASU 2009-17, net of tax						0								0
Net change in unrealized gains (losses)								(33)
Translation adjustments	(295)								(295)
Net prior service credit										20
Net loss										(1,283)
Net hedging results											(1)
Reclassification to earnings											(5)
Shares acquired												(5)
Shares allocated to ESOP participants												47
Purchases													(19)
Sale of shares to ESOP													0
Issuance to employees and employee plans													258
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	42													42
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(42)													(43)
Capital contributions	184													37
Acquisition of Rohm and Haas Company noncontrolling interests														0
Consolidation of variable interest entities														31
Debt Conversion, Converted Instrument, Amount														158
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending at Dec. 31, 2011	22,281	22,281	4,000	2,961	2,663	19,087	(5,996)	78	72	(6,134)	(12)	(434)	0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending at Dec. 31, 2011	1,010													1,010
Total Equity at Dec. 31, 2011	$ 23,291