SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION (Company Owned Life Insurance) (Details) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Supplementary Information [Abstract]
Loan repayments on life insurance	$ 697

Repayment of Company Owned Life insurance Borrowings

No definition available.

Name:	dow_RepaymentofCompanyOwnedLifeinsuranceBorrowings
Namespace Prefix:	dow_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration