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FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS FAIR VALUE MEASUREMENTS (Basis of Fair Value Measurements on a Nonrecurring Basis) (Details) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 12 Months Ended 3 Months Ended 6 Months Ended 3 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Dec. 31, 2012
Mar. 31, 2012
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]                
Fair Value, Assets, Level 1 to Level 2 Transfers, Amount $ 0us-gaap_FairValueAssetsLevel1ToLevel2TransfersAmount $ 4us-gaap_FairValueAssetsLevel1ToLevel2TransfersAmount   $ 0us-gaap_FairValueAssetsLevel1ToLevel2TransfersAmount $ 4us-gaap_FairValueAssetsLevel1ToLevel2TransfersAmount      
Goodwill, Fair Value Disclosure     0us-gaap_GoodwillFairValueDisclosure     0us-gaap_GoodwillFairValueDisclosure 0us-gaap_GoodwillFairValueDisclosure  
Goodwill impairment loss (50)us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss [1] 0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss (220)us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss [1]          
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]                
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]                
Asset write-downs and write-offs 73us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember		 178us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember		   73us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember		 178us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember		      
Goodwill impairment loss           (220)us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember		    
Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]                
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]                
Long-Lived Assets, Other Assets and Equity method Investments, Fair Value Disclosure   127dow_LongLivedAssetsOtherAssetsAndEquityMethodInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
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= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
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= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember		 45dow_LongLivedAssetsOtherAssetsAndEquityMethodInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
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= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember		   127dow_LongLivedAssetsOtherAssetsAndEquityMethodInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
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= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember		 45dow_LongLivedAssetsOtherAssetsAndEquityMethodInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
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/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember		 45dow_LongLivedAssetsOtherAssetsAndEquityMethodInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
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= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember		  
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure     12us-gaap_OtherAssetsFairValueDisclosure
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/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember		     12us-gaap_OtherAssetsFairValueDisclosure
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= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember		 12us-gaap_OtherAssetsFairValueDisclosure
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/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember		  
Equity Method Investments, Fair Value Disclosure     33us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
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= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember		     33us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
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= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember		 33us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestmentsFairValueDisclosure
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= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember		  
Performance Materials [Member]                
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]                
Asset write-downs and write-offs             27us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= dow_PerformanceMaterialsMember		  
Polyurethanes [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member]                
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]                
Asset write-downs and write-offs         693us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= dow_PolyurethanesMember		      
Corporate Segment [Member]                
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]                
Asset write-downs and write-offs         15us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= us-gaap_CorporateMember		      
Corporate Segment [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]                
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]                
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure   18us-gaap_OtherAssetsFairValueDisclosure
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= us-gaap_CorporateMember		     18us-gaap_OtherAssetsFairValueDisclosure
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= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember
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= us-gaap_CorporateMember		      
Infrastructure Solutions [Member]                
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]                
Asset write-downs and write-offs         93us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= dow_InfrastructureSolutionsMember		      
Goodwill impairment loss 0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= dow_InfrastructureSolutionsMember		 [1]   0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= dow_InfrastructureSolutionsMember		 [1]          
Infrastructure Solutions [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]                
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]                
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure   100us-gaap_OtherAssetsFairValueDisclosure
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/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
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/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= dow_InfrastructureSolutionsMember		     100us-gaap_OtherAssetsFairValueDisclosure
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/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= dow_InfrastructureSolutionsMember		      
Performance Materials & Chemicals [Member]                
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]                
Asset write-downs and write-offs         70us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= dow_PerformanceMaterialsChemicalsMember		      
Goodwill impairment loss 0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= dow_PerformanceMaterialsChemicalsMember		 [1]   (220)us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= dow_PerformanceMaterialsChemicalsMember		 [1]     (220)us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLoss
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= dow_PerformanceMaterialsChemicalsMember		    
Performance Materials & Chemicals [Member] | Fair Value, Measurements, Nonrecurring [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]                
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]                
Other Assets, Fair Value Disclosure 4us-gaap_OtherAssetsFairValueDisclosure
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/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
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/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= dow_PerformanceMaterialsChemicalsMember		   4us-gaap_OtherAssetsFairValueDisclosure
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= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember
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/ us-gaap_FairValueByMeasurementFrequencyAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementsNonrecurringMember
/ us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis
= dow_PerformanceMaterialsChemicalsMember		      
1Q12 Restructuring [Member]                
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]                
Asset write-downs and write-offs               94us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges
/ dow_RestructuringActivitiesByRestructuringPlanOrEventAxis
= dow_A1Q12RestructuringMember
North America and Europe [Member] | Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Member]                
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]                
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset Value 1,328us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue
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/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
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/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= dow_NorthAmericaAndEuropeMember		 [2] 1,328us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue
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/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
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/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= dow_NorthAmericaAndEuropeMember		 [2] 1,057us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
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/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= dow_NorthAmericaAndEuropeMember		 [2] 1,057us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
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/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= dow_NorthAmericaAndEuropeMember		 [2]  
Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Gain (Loss) Included in Earnings 9us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainLossIncludedInEarnings1
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Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Purchases 1,171us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetPurchases
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/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
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Fair Value, Measurement with Unobservable Inputs Reconciliation, Recurring Basis, Asset, Settlements 1,079us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetSettlements
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/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
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/ us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis
= us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member
/ us-gaap_StatementGeographicalAxis
= dow_NorthAmericaAndEuropeMember		 [2]            
Cost of Sales [Member]                
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]                
Asset write-downs and write-offs       23us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember		 175us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= us-gaap_CostOfSalesMember		      
Goodwill and other intangible asset impairment losses [Member]                
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]                
Asset write-downs and write-offs       50us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
= dow_GoodwillandotherintangibleassetimpairmentlossesMember		        
Intangible Assets, Amortization Period [Member]                
Fair Value, Assets and Liabilities Measured on Recurring and Nonrecurring Basis [Line Items]                
Asset write-downs and write-offs         $ 3us-gaap_OtherAssetImpairmentCharges
/ us-gaap_IncomeStatementLocationAxis
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[1] See Note 11 for information regarding intangible asset impairment losses and Note 9 for information regarding the goodwill impairment loss.
[2] Included in "Accounts and notes receivable – Other" in the consolidated balance sheets.
[3] Included in "Selling, general and administrative expenses" in the consolidated statements of income.