DERIVATIVE AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES (Schedule of Notional Amounts of Financial Instruments) (Parenthetical) (Details)	Mar. 31, 2014
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Maturity period of cash flow hedges, maximum (in years)	3 years
Not Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Maturity period of cash flow hedges, maximum (in years)	1 year

Maximum length of time hedged in foreign currency cash flow hedge

No definition available.

Name:	ip_MaximumLengthOfTimeHedgedInForeignCurrencyCashFlowHedges
Namespace Prefix:	ip_
Data Type:	us-types:durationStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant