VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES AND PREFERRED SECURITIES OF SUBSIDIARIES (Narrative) (Details) a in Thousands, $ in Millions		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
		Oct. 31, 2007 USD ($) a	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2006 USD ($) a	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2007 USD ($)
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
International Paper debt obligations held by the Entities			$ 9,600		$ 9,600
Cash and temporary investments			1,104		1,104			$ 1,881
Remainder of the borrowing included in long-term debt			8,887		8,887			8,631
Additional debt included in notes payable and current maturities			753		753			742
Debt reductions	[1]		90	$ 262	1,479	$ 1,301
Payments to acquire investments					198	0
Accretion income for amortization of purchase accounting adjustment, financial assets			5	5	14	14
Accretion expense for amortization of purchase accounting adjustment, financial liabiities			2	$ 2	5	$ 5
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Contribution of Class A interests in the Borrower Entities to other newly formed entities in December 2006							$ 200
Contribution of International Paper promissory notes, to other newly formed entities							400
Entities acquired International Paper debt obligations for cash							4,800
International Paper debt obligations held by the Entities							5,200
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Class B Interests In Entities [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Class B interests held in entities in December 2006							5,000	5,200
International Paper debt obligations held by the Entities								5,300
Remainder of the borrowing included in long-term debt								50
Additional debt included in notes payable and current maturities								$ 107
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Amount of consideration received							4,800
Contribution of International Paper promissory notes, to other newly formed entities			130
International Paper debt obligations held by the Entities			150		150
Cash and temporary investments			600		600
Remainder of the borrowing included in long-term debt			4,220		4,220
Letters of credit issued that support Timber Notes							$ 4,800
Debt reductions			630
Notes receivable, fair value disclosure			4,841		4,841
Long-term debt, fair value			4,240		4,240
Deferred tax liabilities, other			1,400		1,400
Payments to acquire investments					198
2007 Financing Entities [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Forestlands acreage sales | a		1,550
Amount of consideration received		$ 2,380
Letters of credit issued that support Timber Notes		$ 2,380
Fair value of notes receivable as of acquisition date									$ 2,090
Notes receivable, fair value disclosure			$ 2,090		$ 2,090
Timber Notes [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Forestlands acreage sales | a							5,600
Letters of credit downgrade period of replacement			60 days
2007 Financing Entities [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Letters of credit downgrade period of replacement					30 days
Remainder of the borrowing included in long-term debt										$ 2,140
Fair value of financial assets as of acquisition date										$ 2,030
Long-term debt, fair value			$ 1,980		$ 1,980
Deferred tax liabilities, other			$ 840		$ 840

[1] Reductions related to notes with interest rates ranging from 4.75% to 5.85% with original maturities from 2019 to 2030 and from 4.75% to 9.38% with original maturities from 2015 to 2027 for the three months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively, and from 4.70% to 9.38% with original maturities from 2015 to 2030 and from 4.75% to 9.38% with original maturities from 2018 to 2029 for the nine months ended September 30, 2015 and 2014, respectively.