STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION (Details) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015 years
Employees' Stock Purchase Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award, Maximum Employee Subscription Rate	10.00%
Share based compensation arrangement by share based payment award discount from market price offering date company specific	85.00%
Unrecognized Compensation Cost	$ 8
Weighted-average Recognition Period, in years	0.63
Equity Option [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized Compensation Cost	61
Weighted-average Recognition Period, in years	0.75
Deferred Stock Awards [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized Compensation Cost	161
Weighted-average Recognition Period, in years	0.96
Performance Deferred Stock Awards [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized Compensation Cost	$ 170
Weighted-average Recognition Period, in years	0.93
Employee [Member] \| Employees' Stock Purchase Plan [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Right to purchase shares subscribed by employees	3.2
Weighted-average exercise price right to purchase shares by employees	$ 41.49
Weighted-average fair value of shares under the Employee Stock Purchase Plan	$ 4.62
Employee [Member] \| Equity Option [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Stock options granted to employees under the 2012 plan	3.0
Weighted-average exercise price options granted under the 2012 plan	$ 49.44
Weighted-average fair value per share of purchase rights granted	$ 11.61
Employee [Member] \| Deferred Stock Awards [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Deferred stock granted to employees	2.1
Weighted-average fair value of deferred stock granted under the 2012 plan	$ 49.42
Employee [Member] \| Performance Deferred Stock Awards [Member]
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Deferred stock granted to employees	2.3
Weighted-average fair value of deferred stock granted under the 2012 plan	$ 59.08

The quantity of shares subscribed to by plan participants during the reporting period.

No definition available.

Name:	dow_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanStockPurchaseRights
Namespace Prefix:	dow_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Employee Stock Purchase Plan Weighted Average Exercise Price Per Share

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dow_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanWeightedAverageExercisePricePerShare
Namespace Prefix:	dow_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Employee Stock Purchase Plan Weighted Average Fair Value Per Share

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dow_EmployeeStockPurchasePlanWeightedAverageFairValuePerShare
Namespace Prefix:	dow_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The discount rate from market value that participants pay for shares.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dow_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardDiscountFromMarketPriceOfferingDateCompanySpecific
Namespace Prefix:	dow_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The weighted average period over which unrecognized compensation is expected to be recognized for equity-based compensation plans, using a decimal to express in number of years.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dow_WeightedAverageRecognitionPeriodInYears
Namespace Prefix:	dow_
Data Type:	xbrli:decimalItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Unrecognized cost of unvested share-based compensation awards.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (i)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EmployeeServiceShareBasedCompensationNonvestedAwardsTotalCompensationCostNotYetRecognized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The number of grants made during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(2)(iii)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The weighted average fair value at grant date for nonvested equity-based awards issued during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(2)(iii)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The highest percentage of annual salary that an employee is permitted to utilize with respect to the plan.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardMaximumEmployeeSubscriptionRate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Net number of share options (or share units) granted during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(1)(iv)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted during the reporting period as calculated by applying the disclosed option pricing methodology.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (d)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Weighted average per share amount at which grantees can acquire shares of common stock by exercise of options.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementsByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageExercisePrice
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=dow_DeferredStockAwardsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=dow_PerformanceDeferredStockAwardsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=us-gaap_EmployeeStockMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_AwardTypeAxis=us-gaap_StockOptionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_TitleOfIndividualAxis=dow_EmployeeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: