Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Millions	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 [Member]	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
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common stock issued / sold				46	340
Stock-based compensation and allocation of ESOP shares					307
Other					0
Net Income available for The Dow Chemical Company common stockholders	$ 4,447					4,447
Dividends declared on common stock (per share - 2015: $1.72; 2014: $1.53; 2013: $1.28)						(1,520)
Dividend equivalents on participating securities						(15)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	2,689						2,689
Shares acquired								(11)
Shares allocated to ESOP participants								45
Purchases									(307)
Issuances - compensation plans									0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending at Dec. 31, 2013		$ 26,898	4,000	3,054	3,928	21,407	(4,827)	(357)	(307)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending at Dec. 31, 2013										$ 1,026
Total Equity, Ending at Dec. 31, 2013	27,924
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common stock issued / sold				53	895
Stock-based compensation and allocation of ESOP shares					30
Other					(7)
Net Income available for The Dow Chemical Company common stockholders	3,432					3,432
Dividends declared on common stock (per share - 2015: $1.72; 2014: $1.53; 2013: $1.28)						(1,777)
Dividend equivalents on participating securities						(17)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(3,190)						(3,190)
Shares acquired								(11)
Shares allocated to ESOP participants								43
Purchases									(4,193)
Issuances - compensation plans									267
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending at Dec. 31, 2014	22,423	22,423	4,000	3,107	4,846	23,045	(8,017)	(325)	(4,233)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending at Dec. 31, 2014	931									931
Total Equity, Ending at Dec. 31, 2014	23,354
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common stock issued / sold				0	508
Stock-based compensation and allocation of ESOP shares					(429)
Other					11
Net Income available for The Dow Chemical Company common stockholders	7,345					7,345
Dividends declared on common stock (per share - 2015: $1.72; 2014: $1.53; 2013: $1.28)						(1,942)
Dividend equivalents on participating securities						(23)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(650)						(650)
Shares acquired								0
Shares allocated to ESOP participants								53
Purchases									(2,688)
Issuances - compensation plans									766
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending at Dec. 31, 2015	25,374	$ 25,374	$ 4,000	$ 3,107	$ 4,936	$ 28,425	$ (8,667)	$ (272)	$ (6,155)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending at Dec. 31, 2015	809									$ 809
Total Equity, Ending at Dec. 31, 2015	$ 26,183