Acquisitions - Summary of Pro Forma Financial Information (Detail) (Bayer Material Science [Member], USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Bayer Material Science [Member]
Business Acquisition Pro Forma Information [Line Items]
Net Sales	$ 1,907,607	$ 1,866,209
Net Income Attributable to Stepan Company	$ 73,609	$ 80,353
Net Income Per Common Share Attributable to Stepan Company:
Basic	$ 3.25	$ 3.75
Diluted	$ 3.21	$ 3.54

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The pro forma basic net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (h)(2)-(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25497992&loc=d3e1392-128463

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The pro forma diluted net income per share for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

+ References

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The pro forma net Income or Loss for the period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of a period.

+ References

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The pro forma revenue for a period as if the business combination or combinations had been completed at the beginning of the period.

+ References

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