Consolidated Statement Of Changes In Equity (USD $) In Millions	Total	Common Stock Issued [Member]	Paid-In Capital [Member]	Retained Earnings [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Member]	Treasury Stock [Member]	Total International Paper Shareholders' Equity [Member]	Noncontrolling Interest [Member]
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 7,125	$ 439	$ 5,829	$ 2,460	$ (1,825)	$ 28	$ 6,875	$ 250
Issuance of stock for various plans, net	85	0	79	0	0	(6)	85	0
Repurchase of stock	(30)	0	0	0	0	30	(30)	0
Dividends - Common stock	(427)	0	0	(427)	0	0	(427)	0
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests by subsidiary	(5)	0	0	0	0	0	0	(5)
Noncontrolling interests of acquired entities	37	0	0	0	0	0	0	37
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests	40	0	0	0	0	0	0	40
Comprehensive income (loss)	160	0	0	1,322	(1,180)	0	142	18
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	6,985	439	5,908	3,355	(3,005)	52	6,645	340
Issuance of stock for various plans, net	222	1	134	0	0	(87)	222	0
Repurchase of stock	(35)	0	0	0	0	35	(35)	0
Dividends - Common stock	(487)	0	0	(487)	0	0	(487)	0
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests by subsidiary	(6)	0	0	0	0	0	0	(6)
Noncontrolling interests of acquired entities	(4)	0	0	0	0	0	0	(4)
Comprehensive income (loss)	(39)	0	0	794	(835)	0	(41)	2
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	6,636	440	6,042	3,662	(3,840)	0	6,304	332
Issuance of stock for various plans, net	448	7	421	0	0	(20)	448	0
Repurchase of stock	(512)	0	0	0	0	512	(512)	0
Dividends - Common stock	(567)	0	0	(567)	0	0	(567)	0
Dividends paid to noncontrolling interests by subsidiary	(1)	0	0	0	0	0	0	(1)
Noncontrolling interests of acquired entities	(156)	0	0	(44)	0	0	(44)	(112)
Comprehensive income (loss)	2,436	0	0	1,395	1,081	0	2,476	(40)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 8,284	$ 447	$ 6,463	$ 4,446	$ (2,759)	$ 492	$ 8,105	$ 179