Activity Between Company and Entities (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2011
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Accretion expense for amortization of purchase accounting adjustment, financial liabiities	$ 5
Accretion income for amortization of purchase accounting adjustment, financial assets	12
Entities
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Revenue	15	[1]	14	[1]	35	[1]	39	[1]
Expense	28	[1]	20	[1]	68	[1]	59	[1]
Proceeds from Equity Method Investment, Dividends or Distributions	21	[2]	14	[2]	36	[2]	28	[2]
Cash payments	47	[3]	39	[3]	87	[3]	79	[3]
2001 Financing Entities
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Revenue							1	[4]
Expense							3	[4]
Proceeds from Equity Method Investment, Dividends or Distributions							0	[5]
Cash payments							3	[6]
2002 Financing Entities
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Revenue	0	[7]	0	[7]	0	[7]	2	[7]
Expense	0	[8]	0	[8]	0	[8]	3	[8]
Cash receipts	0	[9]	15	[9]	252	[9]	16	[9]
Cash payments	0	[10]	15	[10]	159	[10]	68	[10]
2007 Financing Entities
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Revenue	15	[11]			21	[11]
Expense	11	[12]			20	[12]
Cash receipts	3	[13]			10	[13]
Cash payments	$ 6	[14]			$ 16	[14]

[1] The net expense related to the Company’s interest in the Entities is included in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations, as International Paper has and intends to affect its legal right to offset as discussed above.

[2] These contracts had maturities of 1 year or less as of September 30, 2012.

[3] The semi-annual payments are related to interest on the associated debt obligations discussed above.

[4] The net expense related to the Company’s interest in the 2001 financing entities is included in Interest expense, net in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations, as International Paper has and intends to affect its legal right to offset as discussed above.

[5] The cash receipts are equity distributions from the 2001 financing entities to International Paper.

[6] The cash payments are related to interest on the associated debt obligations discussed above.

[7] The revenue is included in Equity earnings (losses) in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.

[8] The expense is included in Interest expense, net in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.

[9] The cash receipts are principal and interest from the maturity of a portion of the 2002 Monetized Notes.

[10] The cash payments include both interest and principal on the associated debt obligations.

[11] The revenue is included in Interest expense, net in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations and includes $12 million of accretion income for the amortization of the purchase accounting adjustment on the Financial assets of special purpose entities.

[12] The expense is included in Interest expense, net in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations and includes $5 million of accretion expense for the amortization of the purchase accounting adjustment on the Nonrecourse financial liabilities of special purpose entities.

[13] The cash receipts are interest received on the Financial assets of special purpose entities.

[14] The cash payments are interest paid on Nonrecourse financial liabilities of special purpose entities.