OPERATING SEGMENTS AND GEOGRAPHIC AREAS (Schedule of Operating Segments) (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
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales to external customers	$ 14,513		$ 16,046		$ 29,232		$ 30,779
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization	1,960	[1]	2,332	[1]	3,668	[1]	4,274	[1]
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated affiliates	148		291		317		589
Corporate [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales to external customers	61		85		119		174
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization	(215)	[1]	(303)	[1]	(653)	[1]	(1,067)	[1]
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated affiliates	(2)		(6)		(17)		(15)
Electronic And Functional Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales to external customers	1,151		1,197		2,272		2,331
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization	287	[1]	287	[1]	530	[1]	544	[1]
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated affiliates	35		25		54		49
Coatings and Infrastructure Solutions [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales to external customers	1,888		2,002		3,591		3,734
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization	337	[1]	368	[1]	541	[1]	618	[1]
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated affiliates	45		79		67		147
Agricultural Sciences [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales to external customers	1,676		1,500		3,514		3,106
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization	307	[1]	287	[1]	758	[1]	693	[1]
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated affiliates	(1)		0		0		3
Performance Materials [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales to external customers	3,369		3,858		6,842		7,399
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization	350	[1]	481	[1]	682	[1]	1,045	[1]
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated affiliates	(20)		(4)		(37)		(9)
Performance Plastics [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales to external customers	3,711		4,441		7,302		8,484
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization	760	[1]	958	[1]	1,478	[1]	1,939	[1]
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated affiliates	39		59		73		121
Feedstocks and Energy [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Sales to external customers	2,657		2,963		5,592		5,551
Earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization	134	[1]	254	[1]	332	[1]	502	[1]
Equity in earnings of nonconsolidated affiliates	$ 52		$ 138		$ 177		$ 293

[1] The Company uses EBITDA (which Dow defines as earnings (i.e., "Net Income") before interest, income taxes, depreciation and amortization) as its measure of profit/loss for segment reporting purposes. EBITDA by operating segment includes all operating items relating to the businesses, except depreciation and amortization; items that principally apply to the Company as a whole are assigned to Corporate. A reconciliation of EBITDA to “Income Before Income Taxes” is provided below.