Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 55
-Paragraph 8
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930739&loc=d3e28878-108400

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Date when the debt instrument is scheduled to be fully repaid, in CCYY-MM-DD format.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(2))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentMaturityDate
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:dateItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period of time between issuance and maturity of debt instrument, in PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Detail information of subsequent event by type. User is expected to use existing line items from elsewhere in the taxonomy as the primary line items for this disclosure, which is further associated with dimension and member elements pertaining to a subsequent event.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_SubsequentEventLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=scl_MultiCurrencyRevolvingCreditAgreementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=scl_SeriesTwoThousandFiveASeniorNotesDueNovemberOneTwoThousandEighteenMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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Balance Type:
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- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
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Subsequent Events - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)		12 Months Ended
	Jan. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Jul. 10, 2015	Jun. 27, 2013	Sep. 29, 2005
Multi currency revolving credit agreement [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Revolving credit agreement		$ 125,000,000
Credit agreement secured date		Jul. 10, 2019
Series 2005-A Senior Notes Due November 1, 2018 [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount					$ 40,000,000
Debt instrument interest rate percentage					5.69%
Series 2010-A Senior Notes Due June 1, 2022 [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount					$ 40,000,000
Debt instrument interest rate percentage					5.88%
Series 2011-A Senior Notes Due November 1, 2023 [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount					$ 65,000,000
Debt instrument interest rate percentage					4.86%
Senior Notes Due June 27, 2025 [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount				$ 100,000,000
Debt instrument interest rate percentage				3.86%
Senior Notes Due July 10, 2027 [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Aggregate principal amount			$ 100,000,000
Debt instrument interest rate percentage			3.95%
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Multi currency revolving credit agreement [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Revolving credit agreement	$ 350,000,000
Credit agreement secured date	Jan. 30, 2023
Subsequent Event [Member] \| Credit Agreement [Member] \| Multi currency revolving credit agreement [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Revolving credit agreement	$ 350,000,000
Credit agreement secured date	Jan. 30, 2023
Facility term	5 years