EARNINGS PER SHARE CALCULATIONS (Net Income) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net Income	$ 740		$ 1,077		$ 1,260		$ 1,798
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(6)		(10)		(29)		(21)
Net Income attributable to The Dow Chemical Company	734		1,067		1,231		1,777
Preferred stock dividends	(85)		(85)		(170)		(170)
Net income attributable to participating securities	(6)	[1]	(12)	[1]	(10)	[1]	(20)	[1]
Net income attributable to common stockholders	$ 643		$ 970		$ 1,051		$ 1,587

[1] Accounting Standards Codification Topic 260, "Earnings per Share," requires enterprises with participating securities to use the two-class method to calculate earnings per share and to report the most dilutive earnings per share amount. Deferred stock awards are considered participating securities due to Dow's practice of paying dividend equivalents on unvested shares.