Segment Information - Narrative (Details)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011 reportable_segments businesses
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Number of Businesses	14
Number of Reportable Segments	9

Number of segments reported by the entity. A reportable segment is a component of an entity for which there is an accounting requirement to report separate financial information on that component in the entity's financial statements.

No definition available.

Name:	dd_NumberOfReportableSegments
Namespace Prefix:	dd_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration