EARNINGS PER SHARE CALCULATIONS (Earnings Per Share Calculation - Basic) (Details) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income, basic (in dollars per share)	$ 4.06		$ 0.94		$ 2.42
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests, basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.02)		$ 0.07		$ (0.03)
Net income attributable to The Dow Chemical Company, basic (in dollars per share)	$ 4.04		$ 1.01		$ 2.39
Preferred stock dividends, basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.29)		$ (0.29)		$ (0.30)
Net income attributable to participating securities, basic (in dollars per share)	$ (0.03)	[1]	$ (0.01)	[1]	$ (0.03)	[1]
Earnings per common share - basic (in dollars per share)	$ 3.72		$ 0.71		$ 2.06

[1] Deferred stock awards are considered participating securities due to Dow's practice of paying dividend equivalents on unvested shares.