Segment Information (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended			3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended			18 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011 Danisco [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Danisco [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Imprelis [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Imprelis [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Imprelis [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Reportable Segment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Reportable Segment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Reportable Segment [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Agriculture [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Agriculture [Member]		Dec. 31, 2010 Agriculture [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Agriculture [Member] Imprelis [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Agriculture [Member] Imprelis [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Electronics and Communications [Member]		Dec. 31, 2010 Electronics and Communications [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Industrial Biosciences [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Industrial Biosciences [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Industrial Biosciences [Member] Danisco [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Nutrition and Health [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Nutrition and Health [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Nutrition and Health [Member] Danisco [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Performance Chemicals [Member]		Dec. 31, 2010 Performance Chemicals [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Performance Materials [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Performance Materials [Member]		Dec. 31, 2010 Performance Materials [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Safety and Protection [Member]		Dec. 31, 2010 Safety and Protection [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Other [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Other [Member]		Dec. 31, 2010 Other [Member]		Dec. 31, 2012 Other [Member] INVISTA [Member]
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]
Pretax benefits (charges)	$ (882)	$ (411)	$ (10)									$ (469)	[1],[2],[3]	$ (225)	[4],[5]	$ (50)	[6]			$ (37)	[3],[7],[8]	$ 8	[9]	$ (3)	[3]	$ (79)	[10],[11]		$ (49)	[3]	$ (126)	[10],[11]		$ (36)	[3],[8]	$ 10	[9]	$ (104)	[3],[8]	$ 47	[10],[12]	$ 16	[9]	$ (58)	[3]	$ 5	[9]	$ (126)	[13],[3]	$ (28)	[10]	$ 1	[9]
Product claims						(575)	(175)	(750)										(575)	(175)
Gain on sale of a business												117																												49
Restructuring charges									(134)	(53)		(11)								(9)				(3)		(9)			(49)		(14)			(3)				(12)		(2)				(58)				11		(28)
Gain on sale of equity method investment	122	0	0																	122
Asset impairment charges	(275)																			(150)														(33)				(92)
Charge related to litigation settlement																																																						(137)
Milestone payment associated with licensing agreement														(50)		(50)
Acquisition related charges				(171)	(182)																							(70)					(112)
Reduction in estimated restructuring costs											$ 40											$ 8														$ 10						$ 16				$ 5						$ 1

[1] Included a $(575) charge recorded in cost of goods sold and other operating charges associated with the company's process to fairly resolve claims related to the use of Imprelis®. See Note 16 for additional information.

[2] Included a $117 gain recorded in other income, net associated with the sale of a business.

[3] Included a $(134) restructuring charge recorded in employee separation/asset related charges, net primarily as a result of the company's plan to eliminate corporate costs previously allocated to Performance Coatings and cost-cutting actions to improve competitiveness, partially offset by a reversal of prior year restructuring accruals. Charges by segment were: Agriculture - $(11); Electronics & Communications - $(9); Industrial Biosciences - $(3); Nutrition & Health - $(49); Performance Chemicals - $(3); Performance Materials - $(12); Safety & Protection - $(58); and Other - $11. See Note 3 for additional information.

[4] Included a $(175) charge recorded in cost of goods sold and other operating charges associated with the company's process to fairly resolve claims associated with the use of Imprelis®. See Note 16 for additional information.

[5] Included a $(50) charge recorded in research and development expense in connection with a milestone payment associated with a Pioneer licensing agreement. Since this milestone was reached before regulatory approval was secured by Pioneer, it was charged to research and development expense.

[6] Included a $(50) charge in research and development expense for an upfront payment related to a Pioneer licensing agreement. Since this payment was made before regulatory approval was secured by Pioneer, it was charged to research and development expense.

[7] Included a $122 gain recorded in other income, net associated with the sale of an equity method investment.

[8] Included a $(275) impairment charge recorded in employee separation/asset related charges, net related to asset groupings, which impacted the segments as follows: Electronics & Communications - $(150); Performance Chemicals - $(33); and Performance Materials - $(92). See Note 3 for additional information.

[9] Included a $40 reduction in estimated restructuring costs related to restructuring programs impacting the segments as follows: Electronics & Communications – $8; Performance Chemicals – $10; Performance Materials – $16; Safety & Protection – $5; and Other – $1.

[10] Included a $(53) restructuring charge primarily related to severance and related benefit costs associated with the Danisco acquisition impacting the segments as follows: Industrial Biosciences - $(9); Nutrition & Health - $(14); Performance Materials - $(2); and Other - $(28). See Note 3 for additional information.

[11] Included a $(182) charge for transaction related costs and the fair value step-up of inventories that were acquired as part of the Danisco transaction, which impacted the segments as follows: Industrial Biosciences - $(70) and Nutrition & Health - $(112).

[12] Included a $49 benefit recorded in other income, net associated with the sale of a business.

[13] Included a $(137) charge in cost of goods sold and other operating charges primarily related to the company's settlement of litigation with INVISTA.