EARNINGS PER SHARE CALCULATIONS (Earnings Per Share Calculation - Basic) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended			6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income, basic	$ 2.06		$ 0.63	$ 2.62	$ 1.08
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, basic	$ (0.01)		$ 0.00	$ (0.04)	$ (0.02)
Net income attributable to The Dow Chemical Company, basic	$ 2.05		$ 0.63	$ 2.58	$ 1.06
Preferred stock dividends, basic	$ (0.07)		$ (0.07)	$ (0.14)	$ (0.15)
Net income attributable to participating securities, basic	$ (0.02)		$ (0.01)	$ (0.02)	$ (0.01)
Net income attributable to common stockholders, basic	$ 1.96	$ 0.55	$ 0.55	$ 2.42	$ 0.90