Dow Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows Statement - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Statement of Cash Flows [Abstract]
Net income	$ 1,006	$ 258
Depreciation and amortization	717	724
Provision (credit) for deferred income tax	144	(57)
Earnings of nonconsolidated affiliates less than (in excess of) dividends received	(46)	134
Net periodic pension benefit cost	23	64
Pension contributions	(1,061)	(63)
Net gain on sales of assets, businesses and investments	(38)	(12)
Restructuring and asset related charges - net	0	96
Other net loss	55	135
Accounts and notes receivable	(866)	128
Inventories	(478)	(111)
Accounts payable	611	(314)
Other assets and liabilities, net	(295)	254
Cash provided by (used for) operating activities - continuing operations	(228)	1,236
Cash provided by (used for) operating activities - discontinued operations	(63)	3
Cash provided by (used for) operating activities	(291)	1,239
Capital expenditures	(289)	(395)
Investment in gas field developments	(9)	(5)
Payments to Acquire Equipment on Lease	(2)	0
Proceeds from sales of property and businesses, net of cash divested	9	11
Investments in and loans to nonconsolidated affiliates	0	(114)
Distributions and loan repayments from nonconsolidated affiliates	0	6
Purchases of investments	(150)	(128)
Proceeds from sales and maturities of investments	428	472
Cash used for investing activities	(13)	(153)
Changes in short-term notes payable	(47)	838
Proceeds from issuance of long-term debt	29	2,449
Payments on long-term debt	(164)	(2,275)
Purchases of treasury stock	0	(125)
Proceeds from issuance of stock	127	16
Transaction financing, debt issuance and other costs	(1)	(93)
Employee taxes paid for share-based payment arrangements	(10)	(26)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests	(8)	(1)
Dividends paid to stockholders	(521)	(518)
Cash provided by (used for) financing activities	(595)	265
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	(48)	(86)
Cash, Cash Equivalents, Restricted Cash and Restricted Cash Equivalents, Period Increase (Decrease), Including Exchange Rate Effect	(947)	1,265
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	5,108	2,380
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	4,161	3,645
Less: Restricted cash and cash equivalents, included in "Other current assets"	28	12
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	$ 4,133	$ 3,633