Regulatory Capital (Details) (USD $)	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013
Compliance with Regulatory Capital Requirements under Banking Regulations [Line Items]
Risk weighted assets	$ 4,760,000,000	$ 4,640,000,000	$ 4,220,000,000
Chemical Financial Corporation [Member]
Total Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets:
Actual, Capital Amount	659,644,000	649,836,000	561,092,000
Minimum Required for Capital Adequacy Purposes, Capital Amount	381,146,000	371,465,000	337,508,000
Actual, Ratio	13.80%	14.00%	13.30%
Minimum Required for Capital Adequacy Purposes, Ratio	8.00%	8.00%	8.00%
Tier 1 Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets:
Actual, Capital Amount	599,856,000	591,535,000	507,985,000
Minimum Required for Capital Adequacy Purposes, Capital Amount	190,573,000	185,732,000	168,754,000
Actual, Ratio	12.60%	12.70%	12.00%
Minimum Required for Capital Adequacy Purposes, Ratio	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%
Leverage Ratio:
Actual, Capital Amount	599,856,000	591,535,000	507,985,000
Minimum Required for Capital Adequacy Purposes, Capital Amount	243,070,000	239,010,000	230,992,000
Actual, Ratio	9.90%	9.90%	8.80%
Minimum Required for Capital Adequacy Purposes, Ratio	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%
Chemical Bank [Member]
Total Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets:
Actual, Capital Amount	589,254,000	579,494,000	545,361,000
Minimum Required for Capital Adequacy Purposes, Capital Amount	380,542,000	370,881,000	336,576,000
Required to be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Regulations, Capital Amount	475,678,000	463,601,000	420,720,000
Actual, Ratio	12.40%	12.50%	13.00%
Minimum Required for Capital Adequacy Purposes, Ratio	8.00%	8.00%	8.00%
Required to be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Regulations, Ratio	10.00%	10.00%	10.00%
Tier 1 Capital to Risk-Weighted Assets:
Actual, Capital Amount	529,560,000	521,283,000	492,398,000
Minimum Required for Capital Adequacy Purposes, Capital Amount	190,271,000	185,440,000	168,288,000
Required to be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Regulations, Capital Amount	285,407,000	278,160,000	252,432,000
Actual, Ratio	11.10%	11.20%	11.70%
Minimum Required for Capital Adequacy Purposes, Ratio	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%
Required to be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Regulations, Ratio	6.00%	6.00%	6.00%
Leverage Ratio:
Actual, Capital Amount	529,560,000	521,283,000	492,398,000
Minimum Required for Capital Adequacy Purposes, Capital Amount	242,939,000	238,884,000	230,544,000
Required to be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Regulations, Capital Amount	$ 303,673,000	$ 298,605,000	$ 288,179,000
Actual, Ratio	8.70%	8.70%	8.50%
Minimum Required for Capital Adequacy Purposes, Ratio	4.00%	4.00%	4.00%
Required to be Well Capitalized Under Prompt Corrective Action Regulations, Ratio	5.00%	5.00%	5.00%

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The amount of total capital as defined in the regulations.

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The amount of Total Capital required to be categorized as well as capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

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Total Capital divided by risk weighted assets as defined in the regulations.

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Amount of risk-weighted assets as calculated in accordance with U.S. Federal regulatory capital standards.

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Tier 1 Leverage Capital as defined in the regulations. Also called Core Capital.

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Tier 1 Risk Based Capital as defined in the regulations.

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