Changes in Goodwill Balances (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	$ 5,775
Accumulated impairment losses	(3,429)	[1]
Total	2,346
Reclassifications and other	(35)	[2]
Additions/reductions	2,095
Goodwill	7,835
Accumulated impairment losses	(3,429)	[1]
Total	4,406
Industrial Packaging
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	1,157
Accumulated impairment losses	0	[1]
Total	1,157
Reclassifications and other	0	[2]
Additions/reductions	2,089	[3]
Goodwill	3,246
Accumulated impairment losses	0	[1]
Total	3,246
Printing Papers
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	2,439
Accumulated impairment losses	(1,765)	[1]
Total	674
Reclassifications and other	(35)	[2]
Additions/reductions	3	[4]
Goodwill	2,407
Accumulated impairment losses	(1,765)	[1]
Total	642
Consumer Packaging
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	1,779
Accumulated impairment losses	(1,664)	[1]
Total	115
Reclassifications and other	0	[2]
Additions/reductions	3	[5]
Goodwill	1,782
Accumulated impairment losses	(1,664)	[1]
Total	118
Distribution
Goodwill [Line Items]
Goodwill	400
Accumulated impairment losses	0	[1]
Total	400
Reclassifications and other	0	[2]
Additions/reductions	0
Goodwill	400
Accumulated impairment losses	0	[1]
Total	$ 400

[1] (a)Represents accumulated goodwill impairment charges since the adoption of ASC 350, “Intangibles – Goodwill and Other” in 2002.

[2] (b)Represents the effects of foreign currency translations and reclassifications.

[3] (c)Represents the acquisition of Temple-Inland, net of amounts written off related to the divestiture of two Temple-Inland Mills (Ontario, California and New Johnsonville, Tennessee) and one International Paper mill (Oxnard (Hueneme), California).

[4] (d)Reflects an increase related to a purchase price adjustment for Andhra Pradesh Paper Mills in India partially offset by a reduction from tax benefits generated by the deduction of goodwill amortization for tax purposes in Brazil.

[5] (e)Represents the impact of the change in estimate of the contributed land in the Shandong IP & Sun Food Packaging Co., Ltd. joint venture in China entered into in 2011.