Cash Proceeds from Indemnity Payment

No definition available.

Name:	dow_CashProceedsfromIndemnityPayment
Namespace Prefix:	dow_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Loss Contingency, loss in Period - Dow's portion

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dow_LossContingencylossinPeriodDowsportion
Namespace Prefix:	dow_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying amount of reserve for known or estimated probable loss from litigation, which may include attorneys' fees and other litigation costs, which is expected to be paid within one year of the date of the statement of financial position.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.25)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82911808&loc=d3e14326-108349

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6396582&loc=d3e15243-108350

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationReserveCurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount awarded to other party in judgment or settlement of litigation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationSettlementAmountAwardedToOtherParty
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The noncurrent portion of the receivable other than from customers, that is amounts expected to be collected after one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_NontradeReceivablesNoncurrent
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of cash and cash equivalents restricted as to withdrawal or usage, classified as current. Cash includes, but is not limited to, currency on hand, demand deposits with banks or financial institutions, and other accounts with general characteristics of demand deposits. Cash equivalents include, but are not limited to, short-term, highly liquid investments that are both readily convertible to known amounts of cash and so near their maturity that they present insignificant risk of changes in value because of changes in interest rates.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98513485&loc=SL98516268-108586

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 4
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3044-108585

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=82887183&loc=d3e6676-107765

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=dow_RockyFlatsMatterDomain
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENT LIABILITIES (Rocky Flats Matter) (Details) - Rocky Flats Matter [Domain] - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2017	Jan. 17, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Litigation Settlement, Amount Awarded to Other Party	$ 375
Loss Contingency, loss in Period - Dow's portion	$ 131
Estimated Litigation Liability, Current				$ 130
Proceeds from Indemnity Payment			$ 131
Restricted Cash and Cash Equivalents, Current		$ 130
Nontrade Receivables, Noncurrent				$ 131