OPERATING SEGMENTS AND GEOGRAPHIC AREAS (Schedule of Operating Segments) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales to external customers		$ 12,483	$ 12,036	$ 35,138	$ 37,316
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization	[1]	2,063	2,923	7,243	8,363
Equity in earnings (losses) of nonconsolidated affiliates by operating segment (included in EBITDA)		70	135	191	575
Agricultural Sciences [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales to external customers		1,235	1,167	4,458	4,778
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization	[1]	101	582	732	1,246
Equity in earnings (losses) of nonconsolidated affiliates by operating segment (included in EBITDA)		8	2	4	2
Consumer Solutions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales to external customers		1,575	1,108	3,894	3,327
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization	[1]	375	289	2,260	744
Equity in earnings (losses) of nonconsolidated affiliates by operating segment (included in EBITDA)		9	14	47	53
Infrastructure Solutions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales to external customers		2,534	1,900	6,213	5,689
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization	[1]	285	325	1,968	860
Equity in earnings (losses) of nonconsolidated affiliates by operating segment (included in EBITDA)		25	25	121	136
Performance Materials & Chemicals [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales to external customers		2,367	3,142	6,812	9,592
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization	[1]	322	540	(277)	2,335
Equity in earnings (losses) of nonconsolidated affiliates by operating segment (included in EBITDA)		(6)	54	(49)	231
Performance Plastics [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales to external customers		4,702	4,665	13,561	13,740
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization	[1]	1,251	1,349	3,479	3,837
Equity in earnings (losses) of nonconsolidated affiliates by operating segment (included in EBITDA)		39	50	83	174
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales to external customers		70	54	200	190
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization	[1]	(271)	(162)	(919)	(659)
Equity in earnings (losses) of nonconsolidated affiliates by operating segment (included in EBITDA)		$ (5)	$ (10)	$ (15)	$ (21)

[1] The Company uses EBITDA (which Dow defines as earnings (i.e., "Net Income") before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) as its measure of profit/loss for segment reporting purposes. EBITDA by operating segment includes all operating items relating to the businesses; items that principally apply to the Company as a whole are assigned to Corporate. A reconciliation of EBITDA to "Income Before Income Taxes" is provided below: