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]	Non-redeemable Noncontrolling Interests
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					313
Stock-based compensation and allocation of ESOP shares					(277)
Net income available for The Dow Chemical Company common stockholders	$ 3,818					3,818
Dividends declared on common stock (per share - 2016: $1.38; 2015: $1.26)						(1,436)
Dividend equivalents on participating securities						(16)
Other					18					3
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(568)						(568)
Shares allocated to ESOP participants								47
Purchases									(500)
Issuances - compensation plans									511
Total Equity, Ending at Sep. 30, 2015	25,166
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending at Sep. 30, 2015		$ 24,333	4,000	3,107	4,900	25,411	(8,585)	(278)	(4,222)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest										839
Net income available for The Dow Chemical Company common stockholders	1,290
Other										3
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(175)
Total Equity, Ending at Sep. 30, 2015	25,166
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending at Sep. 30, 2015		24,333	4,000	3,107	4,900	25,411	(8,585)	(278)	(4,222)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest										833
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					320
Stock-based compensation and allocation of ESOP shares					(340)
Net income available for The Dow Chemical Company common stockholders	4,011					4,011
Dividends declared on common stock (per share - 2016: $1.38; 2015: $1.26)						(1,531)
Dividend equivalents on participating securities						(21)
Other					0					1
Other comprehensive income (loss)	986						986
Shares allocated to ESOP participants								46
Purchases									(416)
Issuances - compensation plans									606
Total Equity, Ending at Sep. 30, 2016	30,349
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending at Sep. 30, 2016	29,035	29,035	4,000	3,107	4,916	30,884	(7,681)	(226)	(5,965)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest										1,298
Net income available for The Dow Chemical Company common stockholders	719
Other										0
Other comprehensive income (loss)	164
Total Equity, Ending at Sep. 30, 2016	30,349
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending at Sep. 30, 2016	29,035	$ 29,035	$ 4,000	$ 3,107	$ 4,916	$ 30,884	$ (7,681)	$ (226)	$ (5,965)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 1,314									$ 1,314