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, 2012			$ 4,000	$ 3,008	$ 3,281	$ 18,495	$ (7,516)	$ (391)	$ 0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Beginning at Dec. 31, 2012										990
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common stock issued				16
Common Stock Issued Addtional Paid in Capital					64
Stock-based compensation and allocation of ESOP shares					42
Net income available for The Dow Chemical Company common stockholders	550					550
Dividends declared on common stock (per share - 2014: $0.37; 2013: $0.32)						(379)
Other					0	(4)				(5)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(178)						(178)
Shares Allocated to ESOP participants								10
Purchases									0
Issuance to employees and employee plans									0
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	25									25
Distributions to noncontrolling interests										(15)
Capital contributions										9
Purchases of noncontrolling interests										0
Transfers to redeemable noncontrolling interests										0
Cumulative translation adjustments										(6)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending at Mar. 31, 2013		20,998	4,000	3,024	3,387	18,662	(7,694)	(381)	0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending at Mar. 31, 2013										998
Total Equity, Ending at Mar. 31, 2013	21,996
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Beginning at Dec. 31, 2013	26,898		4,000	3,054	3,928	21,407	(4,827)	(357)	(307)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Beginning at Dec. 31, 2013	1,026									1,026
Total Equity, Beginning at Dec. 31, 2013	27,924
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common stock issued				38
Common Stock Issued Addtional Paid in Capital					489
Stock-based compensation and allocation of ESOP shares					(4)
Net income available for The Dow Chemical Company common stockholders	964					964
Dividends declared on common stock (per share - 2014: $0.37; 2013: $0.32)						(437)
Other					(6)	(5)				1
Other comprehensive income (loss)	3						3
Shares Allocated to ESOP participants								8
Purchases									(1,250)
Issuance to employees and employee plans									43
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	17									17
Distributions to noncontrolling interests										(12)
Capital contributions										29
Purchases of noncontrolling interests										(54)
Transfers to redeemable noncontrolling interests										(27)
Cumulative translation adjustments										2
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending at Mar. 31, 2014	26,741	26,741	4,000	3,092	4,407	21,929	(4,824)	(349)	(1,514)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending at Mar. 31, 2014	982									982
Total Equity, Ending at Mar. 31, 2014	$ 27,723