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, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013		Sep. 30, 2014		Sep. 30, 2013
Entities [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 10	[1]	$ 11	[1]	$ 29	[1]	$ 35	[1]
Expense	18	[1]	20	[1]	54	[1]	61	[1]
Cash receipts	10	[2]	14	[2]	22	[2]	33	[2]
Cash payments	36	[3]	39	[3]	73	[3]	84	[3]
2007 Financing Entities [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Revenue	6	[4]	6	[4]	19	[4]	20	[4]
Expense	6	[5]	7	[5]	19	[5]	22	[5]
Cash receipts	2	[6]	2	[6]	5	[6]	6	[6]
Cash payments	$ 4	[7]	$ 5	[7]	$ 13	[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, 2014 and 2013, 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, 2014 and 2013, 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.