EARNINGS PER SHARE CALCULATIONS (Earnings Per Share Calculation - Basic) (Details) - $ / shares		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income attributable to The Dow Chemical Company		$ 3.90	$ 6.80	$ 3.22
Preferred stock dividends		(0.31)	(0.30)	(0.29)
Net income attributable to participating securities (1)	[1]	(0.02)	(0.05)	(0.02)
Net income attributable to common stockholders		$ 3.57	$ 6.45	$ 2.91

[1] Deferred stock awards are considered participating securities due to Dow's practice of paying dividend equivalents on unvested shares.