Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net Income	$ 147,153	$ 137,895	$ 127,656
Other Comprehensive Income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments (Note 19)	(21,567)	(28,154)	(2,973)
Defined benefit pension plans:
Net actuarial gain (loss) arising in period (net of tax benefit of $894, tax expense of $2,661 and tax benefit of $265 for 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively)	(2,857)	8,188	(996)
Amortization of prior service cost included in pension expense (net of taxes of $3, $4 and $3 for 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively)	6	8	8
Amortization of actuarial loss included in pension expense (net of taxes of $599, $1,157 and $1,089 for 2022, 2021 and 2020, respectively)	1,794	3,643	3,332
Net defined benefit pension plan activity (Note 19)	(1,057)	11,839	2,344
Cash flow hedges:
Cash flow hedge activity	8,357
Reclassifications to income in period	(9)	(9)	(9)
Net cash flow hedge activity (Note 19)	8,348	(9)	(9)
Other Comprehensive Income	(14,276)	(16,324)	(638)
Comprehensive Income	132,877	121,571	127,018
Comprehensive Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest		(122)	(959)
Comprehensive Income Attributable to Stepan Company	$ 132,877	$ 121,449	$ 126,059