Consolidated Statements of Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total		Common Stock [Member]	Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests' Equity [Member]
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 553,741		$ 25,564	$ 135,693	$ (58,269)	$ (29,528)	$ 478,826	$ 1,455
Issuance of common stock under stock option plan	1,754		67	1,687
Purchase of common stock	(7,924)				(7,924)
Stock-based and deferred compensation	1,493		9	1,553	(69)
Net Income	57,081						57,101	(20)
Other comprehensive income	(54,454)					(54,417)		(37)
Cash dividends paid:
Common stock	(15,387)						(15,387)
Non-qualified stock option and stock award income tax benefit	640			640
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	536,944		25,640	139,573	(66,262)	(83,945)	520,540	1,398
Issuance of common stock under stock option plan	777		45	732
Purchase of common stock	(2,000)				(2,000)
Stock-based and deferred compensation	3,694		24	3,854	(184)
Net Income	76,037						75,968	69
Other comprehensive income	(41,210)					(41,143)		(67)
Cash dividends paid:
Common stock	(16,300)						(16,300)
Non-qualified stock option and stock award income tax benefit	442			442
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	558,384		25,709	144,601	(68,446)	(125,088)	580,208	1,400
Issuance of common stock under stock option plan	4,017		168	3,849
Purchase of common stock	(2,408)				(2,408)
Stock-based and deferred compensation	9,526		18	9,592	(84)
Net Income	86,198	[1]					86,191	7
Other comprehensive income	(2,472)					(2,377)		(95)
Cash dividends paid:
Common stock	(17,329)						(17,329)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 635,916		$ 25,895	$ 158,042	$ (70,938)	$ (127,465)	$ 649,070	$ 1,312

[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