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]	Unearned ESOP Shares [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Beginning at Dec. 31, 2010			$ 4,000	$ 2,931	$ 2,286	$ 17,736	$ (4,399)	$ (476)	$ (239)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Beginning at Dec. 31, 2010										803
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock issued				8	47
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	11									11
Net Income available for The Dow Chemical Company common stockholders	625					625
Dividends declared on common stock (Per share: $0.25 in 2012, $0.15 in 2011)						(172)
Other						(2)				0
Other comprehensive income	518						518
Purchases									(19)
Issuance to employees and employee plans									258
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(18)									(18)
Capital contributions	20									20
Consolidation of variable interest entity										0
Stock-based compensation and allocation of ESOP shares					(90)
Shares Allocated to ESOP participants								9
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending at Mar. 31, 2011		23,021	4,000	2,939	2,243	18,187	(3,881)	(467)	0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending at Mar. 31, 2011										816
Total Equity, Ending at Mar. 31, 2011	23,837
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Beginning at Dec. 31, 2011	22,281		4,000	2,961	2,663	19,087	(5,996)	(434)	0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Beginning at Dec. 31, 2011	1,010									1,010
Total Equity, Beginning at Dec. 31, 2011	23,291
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stock issued				27	95
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	23									23
Net Income available for The Dow Chemical Company common stockholders	412					412
Dividends declared on common stock (Per share: $0.25 in 2012, $0.15 in 2011)						(292)
Other						(4)				1
Other comprehensive income	410						410
Purchases									0
Issuance to employees and employee plans									0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(46)									(46)
Capital contributions	0									0
Consolidation of variable interest entity										37
Stock-based compensation and allocation of ESOP shares					88
Shares Allocated to ESOP participants								9
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending at Mar. 31, 2012	23,026	23,026	4,000	2,988	2,846	19,203	(5,586)	(425)	0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending at Mar. 31, 2012	1,025									1,025
Total Equity, Ending at Mar. 31, 2012	$ 24,051