VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES AND PREFERRED SECURITIES OF SUBSIDIARIES (Activity Between Company and Entities) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
		Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Entities [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Revenue	[1]	$ 9	$ 10	$ 27	$ 29
Expense	[1]	19	18	56	54
Cash receipts	[2]	11	10	21	22
Cash payments	[3]	20	36	56	73
2007 Financing Entities [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Revenue	[4]	7	6	20	19
Expense	[5]	7	6	20	19
Cash receipts	[6]	1	2	5	5
Cash payments	[7]	$ 5	$ 4	$ 13	$ 13

[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 effect its legal right to offset as discussed above.

[2] The cash receipts are equity distributions from the Entities to International Paper prior to the formation of the 2015 Financing Entities.

[3] The cash payments are interest payments on the associated debt obligations of the Entities discussed above. After formation of the 2015 Financing Entities, the payments represent interest paid on Nonrecourse financial liabilities of special purpose entities.

[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 and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, 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 and nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, 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.