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 ($) a	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 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		$ 10,900		$ 10,900
Remainder of the borrowing included in long-term debt		10,823		$ 10,823			$ 8,844
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date				Jan. 01, 2018
Accretion income for amortization of purchase accounting adjustment, financial assets		5	$ 5	$ 14	$ 14
Accretion expense for amortization of purchase accounting adjustment, financial liabiities		2	2	$ 5	$ 5
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Class B interests held in entities in December 2006						$ 5,000
Entities acquired International Paper debt obligations for cash						4,800
International Paper debt obligations held by the Entities						$ 5,200
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Forestlands acreage sales | a						5,600
Amount of consideration received						$ 4,800
Letters of credit downgrade period of replacement				60 days
Payments to Acquire Other Investments			$ 198
Timber Note Maturity Date				Aug. 15, 2021
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		$ 1,100
Notes receivable, fair value disclosure		4,860		4,860
Long-term debt, fair value		4,400		4,400
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
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date				Dec. 11, 2020
2007 Financing Entities [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Forestlands acreage sales | a	1,550
Amount of consideration received	$ 2,380
Timber Note Maturity Date	Dec. 31, 2027
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		2,150		$ 2,150
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
Timber Note Maturity Date				Dec. 31, 2027
Debt Instrument, Maturity Date	Dec. 31, 2027
Fair value of financial assets as of acquisition date									$ 2,030
Long-term debt, fair value		2,020		$ 2,020
Deferred tax liabilities, other		$ 840		$ 840