EARNINGS PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY COMMON SHAREHOLDERS Table (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Line Items]
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations		$ 40	$ 227	$ 379	$ 540
Effect of dilutive securities (a)	[1]	0	0	0	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations - assuming dilution		$ 40	$ 227	$ 379	$ 540
Average common shares outstanding		411.2	420.0	411.0	420.6
Average common shares outstanding - assuming dilution		414.7	421.9	415.1	423.4
Basic earnings (loss) from continuing operations per common share		$ 0.10	$ 0.54	$ 0.92	$ 1.28
Diluted earnings (loss) from continuing operations per common share		$ 0.10	$ 0.54	$ 0.91	$ 1.28
Restricted Stock Performance Share Plan [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Line Items]
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	[1]	3.5	1.9	4.1	2.8

[1] Securities are not included in the table in periods when antidilutive.