Retirement Plans (Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Defined contribution plan, cost recognized		$ 100	$ 112	$ 120
Pension Contributions		750	353	31
Supplemental Employee Retirement Plan, Defined Benefit [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Benefits paid		(62)	(38)	$ (28)
Nonqualified plans funded expected to be paid		22
U.S. Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Benefits paid		(764)	$ (772)
Nonqualified plans funded expected to be paid		782
Increased benefit obligation as a result of a decrease in the discount rate assumption		(302)
Plan assets increase (decrease) reflecting favorable investment results		$ 5
Discount rate	[1]	4.10%	4.65%	4.10%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets	[2]	7.75%	7.75%	8.00%
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost, Expected Long Term Return on Assets for Next Year		7.75%
Defined Benefit Plan, Assumptions Used Calculating Net Periodic Benefit Cost Discount Rate for Next Year		4.40%
Defined benefit expense	[3]	$ 461	$ 387	$ 545
Total recognized in other comprehensive income		44
Accumulated benefit obligation for defined benefit plans		14,300	14,600
Defined Benefit Plan, Future Amortization of Gain (Loss)		374
Defined Benefit Plan, Future Amortization of Prior Service Cost (Credit)		41
Projected benefit obligation		14,438	14,741
Defined benefit plan, net periodic benefit cost estimate for next fiscal year		$ 364
Rate of compensation increase		3.75%
Company contributions		$ 813	391
Non-U.S. Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Benefits paid		$ (7)	$ (13)
Discount rate	[1]	4.72%	5.07%	4.96%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets	[2]	6.64%	7.53%	7.04%
Defined benefit expense	[3]	$ 6	$ 0	$ 5
Total recognized in other comprehensive income		2
Accumulated benefit obligation for defined benefit plans		189	208
Projected benefit obligation		182	196
Company contributions		9	$ 8
Temple Inland Inc [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets			7.00%	6.16%
Cash and Cash Equivalents [Member] | U.S. Plans [Member]
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]
Company contributions		$ 750	$ 353	$ 31

[1] Represents the weighted average rate for 2014 due to the remeasurement in the first quarter of 2014.

[2] Represents the expected rate of return for International Paper's qualified pension plan for 2014 and 2013. The weighted average rate for the Temple-Inland Retirement Plan was 7.00% and 6.16% for 2014 and 2013, respectively.

[3] Excludes $1 million in curtailments in 2014 related to the pension freeze remeasurement that were recorded in restructuring and other charges.