Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Statement Of Income And Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net Income	$ 86,198	[1]	$ 76,037	$ 57,081
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Foreign currency translation adjustments (Note 19)	(8,533)		(45,490)	(31,980)
Defined benefit pension plans:
Net actuarial gain (loss) arising in period (net of taxes of $3,391, $568 and $14,227 for 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively)	3,818		1,311	(24,186)
Amortization of prior service cost included in pension expense (net of taxes of $4, $6 and $6 for 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively)	10		11	14
Amortization of actuarial loss included in pension expense (net of taxes of $1,301, $1,755 and $1,032 for 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively)	2,207		3,002	1,695
Net defined benefit pension plan activity (Note 19)	6,035		4,324	(22,477)
Cash flow hedges:
Losses arising in period (net of taxes of $9, $26, $0 in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively)	(19)		(49)
Reclassifications to income in period (net of taxes of $28, $8 and $7 in 2016, 2015 and 2014, respectively)	45		5	3
Net cash flow hedge activity (Note 19)	26		(44)	3
Other Comprehensive Loss	(2,472)		(41,210)	(54,454)
Comprehensive Income	83,726		34,827	2,627
Comprehensive (Income) Loss Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	88		(2)	57
Comprehensive Income Attributable to Stepan Company	$ 83,814		$ 34,825	$ 2,684

[1] The amounts for net income, net income attributable to Stepan Company and net income attributable to Stepan Company per diluted share for the first, second and third quarters of 2016 have been changed from the amounts originally reported as a result of the Company’s early adoption of ASU No. 2016-9, Compensation – Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Improvement to Employee Share-Based Payment Accounting. See Note 1 for additional information regarding ASU No. 2016-9. Below are the originally reported amounts for the items that changed: 2016 (In thousands, except per share data) First Second Third Net Income $27,657 $27,870 $20,432 Net Income Attributable to Stepan Company 27,654 27,865 20,427 Per Diluted Share 1.21 1.21 0.89