EARNINGS PER SHARE CALCULATIONS (Earnings Per Share Calculation - Diluted) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income attributable to The Dow Chemical Company		$ 4,318		$ 7,685	$ 3,772
Preferred stock dividends (2)		(340)	[1]	0	(340)	[1]
Net income attributable to participating securities (1)	[2]	(22)		(51)	(27)
Net income attributable to common stockholders		$ 3,956		$ 7,634	$ 3,405
Net income attributable to The Dow Chemical Company		$ 3.84		$ 6.19	$ 3.18
Preferred stock dividends (2)		(0.30)	[1]	(0.00)	(0.29)	[1]
Net income attributable to participating securities (1)	[2]	(0.02)		(0.04)	(0.02)
Net income attributable to common stockholders		$ 3.52		$ 6.15	$ 2.87

[1] Preferred stock dividends were not added back in the calculation of diluted earnings per share for the periods ended December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2014, because the effect of an assumed conversion of the Company's Cumulative Convertible Perpetual Preferred Stock, Series A ("Preferred Stock") would have been antidilutive.

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