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 Income (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]
Common stock issued				22	149
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: $0.57 in 2012, $0.40 in 2011)						(460)
Other						(6)				1
Other comprehensive income	752						752
Purchases									(19)
Issuance to employees and employee plans									258
Distributions to noncontrolling interests										(22)
Capital contributions (Noncash capital contributions - 2012: $95; 2011: $0)										20
Consolidation of variable interest entity										31
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	4,000	2,953	2,450	18,877	(3,647)	(448)	0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending at Jun. 30, 2011										854
Total Equity, Ending at Jun. 30, 2011	25,039
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]
Common stock issued				35	155
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	29									29
Net Income available for The Dow Chemical Company common stockholders	1,061					1,061
Dividends declared on common stock (Per share: $0.57 in 2012, $0.40 in 2011)						(667)
Other						(8)				(10)
Other comprehensive income	29						29
Purchases									0
Issuance to employees and employee plans									0
Distributions to noncontrolling interests										(58)
Capital contributions (Noncash capital contributions - 2012: $95; 2011: $0)										95
Consolidation of variable interest entity										37
Stock-based compensation and allocation of ESOP shares					200
Shares Allocated to ESOP participants								35
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending at Jun. 30, 2012	23,121	23,121	4,000	2,996	3,018	19,473	(5,967)	(399)	0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending at Jun. 30, 2012	1,103									1,103
Total Equity, Ending at Jun. 30, 2012	$ 24,224