EARNINGS PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY COMMON SHAREHOLDERS (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Line Items]
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations		$ 220	$ 339	$ 760	$ 425
Effect of dilutive securities (a)	[1]	0	0	0	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations - assuming dilution		$ 220	$ 339	$ 760	$ 425
Average common shares outstanding		415.1	425.3	418.7	429.9
Average common shares outstanding - assuming dilution		417.5	428.6	421.9	433.7
Basic earnings (loss) from continuing operations per common share		$ 0.53	$ 0.80	$ 1.81	$ 0.99
Diluted earnings (loss) from continuing operations per common share		$ 0.53	$ 0.79	$ 1.80	$ 0.98
Restricted Stock Performance Share Plan [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Line Items]
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	[1]	2.4	3.3	3.2	3.7
Equity Option [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Line Items]
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	[1]	0.0	0.0	0.0	0.1

[1] Securities are not included in the table in periods when antidilutive.