VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES AND PREFERRED SECURITIES OF SUBSIDIARIES (Activity Between Company and Entities) (Details) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2012
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Cash receipts					$ 0		$ (45)
Accretion expense for amortization of purchase accounting adjustment, financial liabiities	2				5		5
Accretion income for amortization of purchase accounting adjustment, financial assets	5				14		12
Entities [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Revenue	11	[1]	15	[1]	35	[1]	35	[1]
Expense	20	[1]	28	[1]	61	[1]	68	[1]
Cash receipts	14	[2]	21	[2]	33	[2]	36	[2]
Cash payments	39	[3]	47	[3]	84	[3]	87	[3]
2007 Financing Entities [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Revenue	6	[4]	15	[4]	20	[4]	21	[4]
Expense	7	[5]	11	[5]	22	[5]	20	[5]
Cash receipts	2	[6]	3	[6]	6	[6]	10	[6]
Cash payments	$ 5	[7]	$ 6	[7]	$ 16	[7]	$ 16	[7]

[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] The cash receipts are equity distributions from the Entities to International Paper.

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

[4] The revenue is included in Interest expense, net in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations and includes approximately $5 million and $14 million for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, and $12 million for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, of accretion income for the amortization of the purchase accounting adjustment on the Financial assets of special purpose entities.

[5] The expense is included in Interest expense, net in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations and includes approximately $2 million and $5 million for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2013, respectively, and $5 million for the three months and nine months ended September 30, 2012, respectively, of accretion expense for the amortization of the purchase accounting adjustment on the Nonrecourse financial liabilities of special purpose entities.

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

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