Purchase of the Remaining Interest in Stepan Philippines Inc (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended
	May 22, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 22, 2012
Purchase of the Remaining Interest in Stepan Philippines Inc (Textual) [Abstract]
Percentage of company's ownership, before purchasing the interest in Stepan Philippines			88.80%
Percentage of company's ownership, after purchasing the interest in Stepan Philippines			100.00%
Purchase of Remaining Noncontrolling Interest of Stepan Philippines Inc	$ 2,000,000,000	$ (2,000,000)
Increase in additional paid in capital	551,000
Reclassification of cumulative translation adjustments (gains) to AOCI	$ 197,000