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 ($) a	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)		Dec. 31, 2006 USD ($) a	Sep. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2007 USD ($)
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Forestlands average sales | a	1,550
Long-term debt		$ 8,900			$ 8,900		$ 8,631
Short-term debt		426			426		742
Deferred tax liabilities, other		2,300			2,300
Payments to Acquire Investments					198		0		$ 0
Extinguishment of Debt, Amount			$ 630		2,151	[1]	1,625	[1]	574	[1]
Financing Receivable, Gross		7,014			7,014		2,145
Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments		1,050			1,050		1,881
Letters of credit issued		2,380			2,380
Financial assets												$ 2,090
Notes receivable, fair value disclosure		2,100			2,100		2,270
Long-term debt													$ 2,140
Financial liabilities												$ 2,030
Long-term debt, fair value		1,970			1,970		2,160
Accretion income for amortization of purchase accounting adjustment for financial assets					19		19		19
Accretion expense for amortization of purchase accounting adjustment, financial liabiities					7		$ 7		$ 7
Entities [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Forestlands average sales | a											5,600
Amount of consideration received											$ 4,800
ip_timber note maturity date											Aug. 25, 2016
Business acquisition, equity interest issued or issuable, value assigned											$ 200
Contribution of International Paper promissory notes to other newly formed entities											400
Deferred tax liabilities, other		1,400			1,400
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Amount of consideration received	$ 2,380
ip_timber note maturity date	Oct. 31, 2027
Entities acquired International Paper debt obligations for cash											4,800
International Paper debt obligations held by the Entities											5,200
Long-term debt		50			50
Short-term debt		107			107
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	Nov. 05, 2027
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Class B Interest In Entities [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Interests held in entities in December 2006		5,200			5,200						$ 5,000
International Paper debt obligations held by the Entities		$ 5,300			5,300
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
ip_timber note maturity date		Aug. 25, 2021
Contribution of International Paper promissory notes to other newly formed entities			130
International Paper debt obligations held by the Entities			150	$ 150
Long-term debt		$ 4,220			$ 4,220
Payments to Acquire Investments				198
Letters of credit downgrade period of replacement					60 days
Financing Receivable, Gross		4,800			$ 4,800
ip_Extension Loans requiring LC banks to maintain credit rating at or above a specified threshold		$ 1,100			1,100
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date		Dec. 31, 2020
Cash, cash equivalents, and short-term investments			600	600
Notes receivable, fair value disclosure		$ 4,675			4,675
Long-term debt, fair value		$ 4,280			4,280
2015 Refinance Loans [Domain]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Long-term debt			$ 4,220	$ 4,220
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date		May 25, 2016
Two Thousand Seven Monetized Notes [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Deferred tax liabilities, other		$ 840			$ 840
Letters of credit downgrade period of replacement					30 days

[1] Reductions related to notes with interest rates ranging from 2.00% to 9.38% with original maturities from 2014 to 2031 for the years ended December 31, 2015, 2014 and 2013. Includes the $630 million payment for a portion of the Special Purpose Entity Liability (see Note 12 Variable Interest Entities).