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Reconciliations of Equity - Reconciliations of Total Equity (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended
--- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2015 | Sep. 30, 2014 | Sep. 30, 2015 | Sep. 30, 2014
Reconciliations of total equity |  |  |  |  |
Beginning Balance |  |  |  | $ 536,944 | $ 553,741
Beginning Balance |  |  |  | 535,546 |
Beginning Balance |  |  |  | 1,398 |
Net income |  | $ 24,934 | $ 13,480 | 63,161 | 50,856
Net income |  | 22 | (11) | 65 | (6)
Dividends |  |  |  | (12,067) | (11,381)
Common stock purchases | [1] |  |  | (2,273) | (6,723)
Stock option exercises |  |  |  | 431 | 1,563
Pension liability adjustment, net of tax (Note 10) |  | 722 | 429 | 2,221 | 1,249
Translation adjustments |  | (19,793) | (19,521) | (38,988) | (15,709)
Derivative instrument activity, net of tax |  | (14) | 2 | (40) | 6
Other | [2] |  |  | 3,617 | 2,241
Ending Balance |  | 553,006 | 575,843 | 553,006 | 575,843
Ending Balance |  | 551,584 |  | 551,584 |
Ending Balance |  | 1,422 |  | 1,422 |
Noncontrolling Interests' Equity [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Reconciliations of total equity |  |  |  |  |
Beginning Balance | [3] |  |  | 1,398 | 1,455
Net income | [3] |  |  | 65 | (6)
Translation adjustments | [3] |  |  | (41) | (22)
Ending Balance | [3] | 1,422 | 1,427 | 1,422 | 1,427
Stepan Company Equity [Member] |  |  |  |  |
Reconciliations of total equity |  |  |  |  |
Beginning Balance |  |  |  | 535,546 | 552,286
Net income |  |  |  | 63,096 | 50,862
Dividends |  |  |  | (12,067) | (11,381)
Common stock purchases | [1] |  |  | (2,273) | (6,723)
Stock option exercises |  |  |  | 431 | 1,563
Pension liability adjustment, net of tax (Note 10) |  |  |  | 2,221 | 1,249
Translation adjustments |  |  |  | (38,947) | (15,687)
Derivative instrument activity, net of tax |  |  |  | (40) | 6
Other | [2] |  |  | 3,617 | 2,241
Ending Balance |  | $ 551,584 | $ 574,416 | $ 551,584 | $ 574,416
[1] | Includes the value of Company shares purchased in the open market and the value of Company common shares tendered by employees to settle minimum statutory withholding taxes related to the receipt of performance awards and deferred compensation distributions.
[2] | Primarily comprised of activity related to stock-based compensation, deferred compensation and excess tax benefits.
[3] | Reflects the noncontrolling interest in the Company’s China joint venture.

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- Definition Total of all stockholders' equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors, owners, and affiliates of the entity which is directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (that is, noncontrolling interest, previously referred to as minority interest). + 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 210.5-02.31) -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 27 -Article 5 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 20 -Article 7 + Details
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