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	Unearned ESOP Shares [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest										$ 931
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Beginning at Dec. 31, 2014			$ 4,000	$ 3,107	$ 4,846	$ 23,045	$ (8,017)	$ (325)	$ (4,233)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common stock issued / sold					294
Stock-based compensation and allocation of ESOP shares					(301)
Net income available for The Dow Chemical Company common stockholders	$ 2,528					2,528
Dividends declared on common stock (per share - 2016: $0.92; 2015: $0.84)						(956)
Dividend equivalents on participating securities						(11)				0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(393)						(393)
Shares allocated to ESOP participants								41
Purchases									(500)
Issuances - compensation plans									487
Total Equity, Ending at Jun. 30, 2015	24,451
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending at Jun. 30, 2015		$ 23,612	4,000	3,107	4,839	24,606	(8,410)	(284)	(4,246)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest										977
Net income available for The Dow Chemical Company common stockholders	1,135
Dividend equivalents on participating securities										0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	430
Total Equity, Ending at Jun. 30, 2015	24,451
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending at Jun. 30, 2015		23,612	4,000	3,107	4,839	24,606	(8,410)	(284)	(4,246)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest										839
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	809									809
Total Equity, Beginning at Dec. 31, 2015	26,183
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Beginning at Dec. 31, 2015	25,374		4,000	3,107	4,936	28,425	(8,667)	(272)	(6,155)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Common stock issued / sold					234
Stock-based compensation and allocation of ESOP shares					(280)
Net income available for The Dow Chemical Company common stockholders	3,292					3,292
Dividends declared on common stock (per share - 2016: $0.92; 2015: $0.84)						(1,021)
Dividend equivalents on participating securities						(16)				1
Other comprehensive income (loss)	822						822
Shares allocated to ESOP participants								40
Purchases									0
Issuances - compensation plans									491
Total Equity, Ending at Jun. 30, 2016	30,234
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending at Jun. 30, 2016	28,936	28,936	4,000	3,107	4,890	30,680	(7,845)	(232)	(5,664)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest										835
Net income available for The Dow Chemical Company common stockholders	3,123
Dividend equivalents on participating securities										2
Other comprehensive income (loss)	417
Total Equity, Ending at Jun. 30, 2016	30,234
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending at Jun. 30, 2016	28,936	$ 28,936	$ 4,000	$ 3,107	$ 4,890	$ 30,680	$ (7,845)	$ (232)	$ (5,664)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 1,298									$ 1,298