VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES AND PREFERRED SECURITIES OF SUBSIDIARIES Narrative (Details) a in Thousands, $ in Millions		1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
		Oct. 31, 2007 USD ($) a	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2006 USD ($) a	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2007 USD ($)
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
International Paper debt obligations held by the Entities			$ 9,400
Cash and temporary investments			1,155			$ 1,050
Remainder of the borrowing included in long-term debt			8,824			8,844
Additional debt included in notes payable and current maturities			551			426
Debt reductions	[1]		0	$ 217
Accretion income for amortization of purchase accounting adjustment, financial assets			5
Accretion expense for amortization of purchase accounting adjustment, financial liabiities			2
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
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 Interest In Entities [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Class B interests held in entities in December 2006					5,000
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
Letters of credit issued that support Timber Notes					$ 4,800
ip_Extension Loans requiring LC banks to maintain credit rating at or above a specified threshold						$ 1,100
Notes receivable, fair value disclosure			4,800
Long-term debt, fair value			4,370
Deferred tax liabilities, other			1,400
2015 Refinance Loans [Domain]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Remainder of the borrowing included in long-term debt			4,200
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			$ 2,100
Timber Notes [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Forestlands acreage sales | a					5,600
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
Deferred tax liabilities, other			$ 840

[1] Reductions related to notes with interest rates ranging from 5.30% to 6.25% with original maturities from 2015 to 2025 for the three months ended March 31, 2015.