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 [Member]	Unearned ESOP Shares [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Beginning at Dec. 31, 2013			$ 4,000	$ 3,054	$ 3,928	$ 21,407	$ (4,827)	$ (357)	$ (307)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Preferred stock converted to common stock			0
Common stock issued / sold				53	895
Stock-based compensation and allocation of ESOP shares					30
Preferred stock converted to common stock					0
Other					(7)
Net Income available for The Dow Chemical Company common stockholders	$ 3,432					3,432
Dividends declared on common stock (per share - 2016: $1.84; 2015: $1.72; 2014: $1.53)						(1,777)
Dividend equivalents on participating securities						(17)
Other comprehensive loss	(3,190)						(3,190)
Shares acquired								(11)
Shares allocated to ESOP participants								43
Purchases									(4,193)
Issuances - compensation plans									267
Issuances - Preferred stock converted to common stock									0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending at Dec. 31, 2014		$ 22,423	4,000	3,107	4,846	23,045	(8,017)	(325)	(4,233)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending at Dec. 31, 2014										$ 931
Total Equity, Ending at Dec. 31, 2014	23,354
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Preferred stock converted to common stock			0
Common stock issued / sold				0	508
Stock-based compensation and allocation of ESOP shares					(429)
Preferred stock converted to common stock					0
Other					11
Net Income available for The Dow Chemical Company common stockholders	7,345					7,345
Dividends declared on common stock (per share - 2016: $1.84; 2015: $1.72; 2014: $1.53)						(1,942)
Dividend equivalents on participating securities						(23)
Other comprehensive loss	(650)						(650)
Shares acquired								0
Shares allocated to ESOP participants								53
Purchases									(2,688)
Issuances - compensation plans									766
Issuances - Preferred stock converted to common stock									0
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending at Dec. 31, 2015	25,374	25,374	4,000	3,107	4,936	28,425	(8,667)	(272)	(6,155)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending at Dec. 31, 2015	809									809
Total Equity, Ending at Dec. 31, 2015	26,183
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Preferred stock converted to common stock			(4,000)
Common stock issued / sold				0	398
Stock-based compensation and allocation of ESOP shares					(376)
Preferred stock converted to common stock					(695)
Other					(1)
Net Income available for The Dow Chemical Company common stockholders	3,978					3,978
Dividends declared on common stock (per share - 2016: $1.84; 2015: $1.72; 2014: $1.53)						(2,037)
Dividend equivalents on participating securities						(28)
Other comprehensive loss	(1,155)						(1,155)
Shares acquired								(18)
Shares allocated to ESOP participants								51
Purchases									(916)
Issuances - compensation plans									717
Issuances - Preferred stock converted to common stock									4,695
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent, Ending at Dec. 31, 2016	25,987	$ 25,987	$ 0	$ 3,107	$ 4,262	$ 30,338	$ (9,822)	$ (239)	$ (1,659)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Ending at Dec. 31, 2016	1,242									$ 1,242
Total Equity, Ending at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 27,229