VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES AND PREFERRED SECURITIES OF SUBSIDIARIES Narrative (Details) a in Thousands, $ in Millions	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2007 USD ($) a	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 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		$ 9,400
Remainder of the borrowing included in long-term debt		8,820		8,820			$ 8,844
Additional debt included in notes payable and current maturities		626		626			426
Accretion income for amortization of purchase accounting adjustment, financial assets		4	$ 4	9	$ 9
Accretion expense for amortization of purchase accounting adjustment, financial liabiities		1	$ 1	3	$ 3
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		4,870		4,870
Long-term debt, fair value		4,410		4,410
Deferred tax liabilities, other		1,400		1,400
2015 Refinance Loans [Domain]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Remainder of the borrowing included in long-term debt		4,200		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		2,110		$ 2,110
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		1,990		$ 1,990
Deferred tax liabilities, other		$ 840		$ 840