Summary of Changes in Equity (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Equity [Line Items]
Common stock dividends, per share	$ 0.7875	$ 0.7125
Total International Paper Shareholders' Equity
Equity [Line Items]
Common stock dividends, per share	$ 0.7875	$ 0.7125
Noncontrolling Interests
Equity [Line Items]
Common stock dividends, per share	$ 0.7875	$ 0.7125

Aggregate dividends declared during the period for each share of common stock outstanding.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 04

-Article 3

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 505

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.3-04)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6959260&loc=d3e187085-122770

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration