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	Unearned ESOP Shares [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Beginning at Dec. 31, 2011			$ 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
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common stock issued				37	170
Stock-based compensation and allocation of ESOP shares					279
Net income available for The Dow Chemical Company common stockholders	1,558					1,558
Dividends declared on common stock (per share: $0.96 in 2013, $0.89 in 2012)						(1,042)
Other						(12)				0
Other comprehensive income	515						515
Shares Allocated to ESOP participants								44
Purchases									0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	38									38
Distributions to noncontrolling interests										(60)
Capital contributions (noncash capital contributions 2013: $-; 2012: $97)										97
Consolidation of variable interest entity										37
Cumulative translation adjustments										9
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending at Sep. 30, 2012		23,830	4,000	2,998	3,112	19,591	(5,481)	(390)	0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending at Sep. 30, 2012										1,131
Total Equity, Ending at Sep. 30, 2012	24,961
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Beginning at Dec. 31, 2012	20,877		4,000	3,008	3,281	18,495	(7,516)	(391)	0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Beginning at Dec. 31, 2012	990									990
Total Equity, Beginning at Dec. 31, 2012	21,867
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common stock issued				34	213
Stock-based compensation and allocation of ESOP shares					207
Net income available for The Dow Chemical Company common stockholders	3,484					3,484
Dividends declared on common stock (per share: $0.96 in 2013, $0.89 in 2012)						(1,139)
Other						(10)				(5)
Other comprehensive income	446						446
Shares Allocated to ESOP participants								27
Purchases									(134)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	49									49
Distributions to noncontrolling interests										(30)
Capital contributions (noncash capital contributions 2013: $-; 2012: $97)										35
Consolidation of variable interest entity										0
Cumulative translation adjustments										(26)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending at Sep. 30, 2013	24,005	24,005	4,000	3,042	3,701	20,830	(7,070)	(364)	(134)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending at Sep. 30, 2013	1,013									1,013
Total Equity, Ending at Sep. 30, 2013	$ 25,018