Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net Income	$ 40,204	$ 147,153	$ 137,895
Other Comprehensive Income:
Foreign currency translation adjustments (Note 19)	40,423	(21,567)	(28,154)
Defined benefit pension plans:
Net actuarial gain (loss) arising in period (net of tax benefit of $508, tax benefit of $894 and tax expense of $2,661 for 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively)	(1,630)	(2,857)	8,188
Amortization of prior service cost included in pension expense (net of tax expense of $2, $3 and $4 for 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively)	8	6	8
Amortization of actuarial loss included in pension expense (net of tax expense of $99, $599 and $1,157 for 2023, 2022 and 2021, respectively)	293	1,794	3,643
Net defined benefit pension plan activity (Note 19)	(1,329)	(1,057)	11,839
Cash flow hedges:
Cash flow hedge activity	(2,174)	8,357
Reclassifications to income in period	(10)	(9)	(9)
Net cash flow hedge activity (Note 19)	(2,184)	8,348	(9)
Other Comprehensive Income	36,910	(14,276)	(16,324)
Comprehensive Income	77,114	132,877	121,571
Comprehensive Income Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest			(122)
Comprehensive Income Attributable to Stepan Company	$ 77,114	$ 132,877	$ 121,449