Segment Information (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended						12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Jun. 30, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment significant benefits / (charges)								$ (38)		$ 434		$ (486)
Net restructuring adjustment												(5)
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment		$ 23		$ (2)								14
Restructuring charges						$ (297)	$ (244)
Imprelis [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Loss Contingency												(425)
Insurance recoveries								185		210		73
Agriculture [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment significant benefits / (charges)								148	[1],[2],[3]	316	[4],[5],[6]	(351)	[7],[8]
Pre-tax gain on sale of business, continuing operations						240				240
Net restructuring adjustment												1
Agriculture [Member] | Imprelis [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Loss Contingency												(425)
Insurance recoveries										210		73
Insurance recoveries, net of legal expenses			$ 147		$ 35			182
Loss contingency accrual, period decrease		130						130
Accrual balance		41						41
Electronics & Communications [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment significant benefits / (charges)								(78)	[2],[3]	(84)	[4]	(131)	[7],[9]
Net restructuring adjustment												(2)
Asset impairment charges												(129)
Industrial Biosciences [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment significant benefits / (charges)								(52)	[2],[3]	(13)	[4]	1	[7]
Net restructuring adjustment												1
Nutrition & Health [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment significant benefits / (charges)								(50)	[2],[3]	(15)	[4]	6	[7]
Net restructuring adjustment												6
Performance Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment significant benefits / (charges)								(62)	[2],[3]	292	[4],[10]	(16)	[7]
Net restructuring adjustment												(16)
Charge associated with restructuring actions												(19)
Safety & Protection [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment significant benefits / (charges)								96	[2],[3],[11]	(52)	[4]	4	[7]
Net restructuring adjustment												4
Gain related to litigation settlement		33		$ 112				145
Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Segment significant benefits / (charges)								(40)	[2],[3],[12]	(10)	[4]	1	[7]
Net restructuring adjustment												1
Employee Separation / Asset Related Charges, Net [Member] | Performance Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Charge associated with restructuring actions												(9)
Other income, net [Member] | Performance Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Charge associated with restructuring actions												$ (10)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment	[13]							21
Restructuring charges	[13]									(541)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Segment Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment								10
Restructuring charges										(407)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Agriculture [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment								(3)
Restructuring charges										(134)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Electronics & Communications [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment								15
Restructuring charges										(84)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Industrial Biosciences [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment								(1)
Restructuring charges										(13)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Nutrition & Health [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment								(3)
Restructuring charges										(15)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Performance Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment								(1)
Restructuring charges										(99)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Safety & Protection [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment								4
Restructuring charges										(52)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment								(1)
Restructuring charges										(10)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Employee Separation / Asset Related Charges, Net [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring charges						(232)				(476)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Employee Separation / Asset Related Charges, Net [Member] | Segment Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring charges										(342)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Other income, net [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Charge associated with restructuring actions						$ (65)				(65)
2014 Restructuring Program [Member] | Other income, net [Member] | Performance Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Charge associated with restructuring actions										(65)
2016 Restructuring Program [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring charges		(798)						(798)
2016 Restructuring Program [Member] | Segment Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring charges								(468)
2016 Restructuring Program [Member] | Agriculture [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring charges								(161)
2016 Restructuring Program [Member] | Electronics & Communications [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring charges								(93)
2016 Restructuring Program [Member] | Industrial Biosciences [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring charges								(51)
2016 Restructuring Program [Member] | Nutrition & Health [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring charges								(47)
2016 Restructuring Program [Member] | Performance Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring charges								(61)
2016 Restructuring Program [Member] | Safety & Protection [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring charges								(53)
2016 Restructuring Program [Member] | Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring charges								(2)
2016 Restructuring Program [Member] | Employee Separation / Asset Related Charges, Net [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring charges		(793)						(793)
2016 Restructuring Program [Member] | Employee Separation / Asset Related Charges, Net [Member] | Segment Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring charges								(463)
2016 Restructuring Program [Member] | Other income, net [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Charge associated with restructuring actions		$ (5)						(5)
Employee Severance [Member] | 2014 Restructuring Program [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment								21
Restructuring charges										(301)
Employee Severance [Member] | 2016 Restructuring Program [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring charges								(656)
Employee Severance [Member] | 2016 Restructuring Program [Member] | Segment Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring charges								(351)
Asset Related [Member] | 2014 Restructuring Program [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment								0
Restructuring charges										(223)
Asset Related [Member] | 2016 Restructuring Program [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring charges								(109)
Asset Related [Member] | 2016 Restructuring Program [Member] | Segment Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring charges								(103)
Other Non-Personnel Charges [Member] | 2014 Restructuring Program [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring reserve, accrual adjustment								0
Restructuring charges	[14]									(17)
Other Non-Personnel Charges [Member] | 2016 Restructuring Program [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring charges	[14]							(33)
Other Non-Personnel Charges [Member] | 2016 Restructuring Program [Member] | Segment Total [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Restructuring charges								(14)
GLS/Vinyls [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Pre-tax gain on sale of business, continuing operations							$ 391			$ 391
Cost basis investment impairment [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cost basis investment impairment								(37)
Cost basis investment impairment [Member] | Other [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Cost basis investment impairment					$ (37)			$ (37)

[1] Included $182 of net insurance recoveries recorded in other operating charges for recovery of costs for customer claims related to the use of the Imprelis® herbicide. Included a benefit of $130 in other operating charges for reduction in the accrual for customer claims related to the use of the Imprelis® herbicide. At December 31, 2015, the company had an accrual balance of $41 which represents the company’s best estimate associated with resolving the remaining claims for this matter. See Note 16 for additional information.

[2] Included a $(468) restructuring charge consisting of $(463) recorded in employee separation/asset related charges, net and $(5) recorded in other income, net associated with structural actions across all businesses and staff functions globally to operate more efficiently by further consolidating businesses and aligning staff functions more closely with the businesses. The charge included $(351) of severance and related benefit costs, $(103) of asset related charges, and $(14) of contract termination costs. Pre-tax charges by segment are: Agriculture - $(161), Electronics & Communications - $(93), Industrial Biosciences - $(51), Nutrition & Health - $(47), Performance Materials - $(61), Safety & Protection - $(53), and Other - $(2).

[3] Included a $10 net restructuring benefit recorded in employee separation/asset related charges, net, associated with the 2014 restructuring program. These adjustments were primarily due to the identification of additional projects in certain segments, offset by lower than estimated individual severance costs and workforce reductions achieved through non-severance programs. The net reduction related to segments as follows: Agriculture - $(3), Electronics & Communications - $15, Industrial Biosciences - $(1), Nutrition & Health - $(3), Performance Materials - $(1), Safety & Protection $4 and Other - $(1). See Note 4 for additional information.

[4] Included a $(407) restructuring charge associated with the 2014 restructuring program consisting of $(342) recorded in employee separation / asset related charges, net and $(65) recorded in other income, net. The pre-tax charges by segment were: Agriculture - $(134), Electronics & Communications - $(84), Industrial Biosciences - $(13), Nutrition & Health - $(15), Performance Materials - $(99), Safety & Protection - $(52); and Other - $(10). See Note 4 for additional information.

[5] Included a gain of $240 recorded in other income, net associated with the sale of the copper fungicide and land management businesses, both within the Agriculture segment.

[6] Included income of $210 for insurance recoveries, recorded in other operating charges associated with the company's process to fairly resolve claims related to the use of Imprelis®. See Note 16 for additional information.

[7] Included a net $(5) restructuring adjustment consisting of a $14 benefit associated with prior year restructuring programs and a $(19) charge associated with the restructuring actions related to a joint venture. The majority of the $14 net reduction recorded in employee separation / asset related charges, net was due to the achievement of work force reductions through non-severance programs associated with the 2012 restructuring program. The charge of $(19) included $(9) recorded in employee separation / asset related charges, net and $(10) recorded in other income, net and was the result of restructuring actions related to a joint venture within the Performance Materials segment. Pre-tax amounts by segment were: Agriculture - $1; Electronics & Communications - $(2); Industrial Biosciences - $1; Nutrition & Health - $6; Performance Materials - $(16); Safety & Protection - $4; and Other - $1. See Note 4 for additional information.

[8] Included charges of $(425), offset by $73 of insurance recoveries, recorded in other operating charges associated with the company's process to fairly resolve claims related to the use of Imprelis®. See Note 16 for additional information.

[9] Included a $(129) impairment charge recorded in employee separation / asset related charges, net related to an asset grouping within the Electronics & Communications segment. See Note 4 for additional information

[10] Included a gain of $391 recorded in other income, net associated with the sale of Glass Laminating Solutions / Vinyls. See Note 3 for additional information.

[11] Included a gain of $145, net of legal expenses, recorded in other income, net related to the company's settlement of a legal claim.

[12] Included a $(37) pre-tax impairment charge recorded in employee separation / asset related charges, net for a cost basis investment. See Note 4 for additional information.

[13] Table above excludes activity related to Performance Chemicals, presented as a discontinued operation in the company's Consolidated Income Statement. During 2014, the company recorded a charge of $21 related to Performance Chemicals, of which the company made payments of $13 prior to separation and transferred a liability of $2 to Chemours at separation on July 1, 2015.

[14] Other non-personnel charges consist of contractual obligation costs.