| Quarterly Financial Information [Table Text Block] |
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | In millions, except per share amounts and stock prices | 1st
Quarter | | 2nd
Quarter | | 3rd
Quarter | | 4th Quarter | | Year | | 2016 | | | | | | | | | | | Net sales | $ | 5,110 |
| | $ | 5,322 |
| | $ | 5,266 |
| | $ | 5,381 |
| | $ | 21,079 |
| | Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings | 317 |
| (a) | (14 | ) | (a) | 373 |
| (a) | 280 |
| (a) | 956 |
| (a) | Gain (loss) from discontinued operations | (5 | ) | (b) | — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (5 | ) | (b) | Net earnings (loss) attributable to International Paper Company | 334 |
| (a-c) | 40 |
| (a,c) | 312 |
| (a,c) | 218 |
| (a,c) | 904 |
| (a-c) | Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to International Paper Company common shareholders: | | | | | | | | | | | Earnings (loss) from continuing operations | $ | 0.82 |
| (a) | $ | 0.10 |
| (a) | $ | 0.76 |
| (a) | $ | 0.53 |
| (a) | $ | 2.21 |
| (a) | Gain (loss) from discontinued operations | (0.01 | ) | (b) | — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (0.01 | ) | (b) | Net earnings (loss) | 0.81 |
| (a-c) | 0.10 |
| (a,c) | 0.76 |
| (a,c) | 0.53 |
| (a,c) | 2.20 |
| (a-c) | Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to International Paper Company common shareholders: | | | | | | | | | | | Earnings (loss) from continuing operations | 0.82 |
| (a) | 0.10 |
| (a) | 0.75 |
| (a) | 0.53 |
| (a) | 2.19 |
| (a) | Gain (loss) from discontinued operations | (0.01 | ) | (b) | — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| (0.01 | ) | (b) | Net earnings (loss) | 0.81 |
| (a-c) | 0.10 |
| (a,c) | 0.75 |
| (a,c) | 0.53 |
| (a,c) | 2.18 |
| (a-c) | Dividends per share of common stock | 0.4400 |
| | 0.4400 |
| | 0.4400 |
| | 0.4625 |
| | 1.7825 |
| | Common stock prices | | | | | | | | | | | High | $ | 42.09 |
| | $ | 44.60 |
| | $ | 49.90 |
| | $ | 54.68 |
| | $ | 54.68 |
| | Low | 32.50 |
| | 39.24 |
| | 41.08 |
| | 43.55 |
| | 32.50 |
| | 2015 | | | | | | | | | | | Net sales | $ | 5,517 |
| | $ | 5,714 |
| | $ | 5,691 |
| | $ | 5,443 |
| | $ | 22,365 |
| | Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings | 406 |
|
| 266 |
| (d) | 329 |
| (d) | 265 |
| (d) | 1,266 |
| (d) | Gain (loss) from discontinued operations | — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| Net earnings (loss) attributable to International Paper Company | 313 |
|
| 227 |
| (d,e) | 220 |
| (d,e) | 178 |
| (d,e) | 938 |
| (d,e) | Basic earnings (loss) per share attributable to International Paper Company common shareholders: |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| | Earnings (loss) from continuing operations | $ | 0.74 |
|
| $ | 0.54 |
| (d) | $ | 0.53 |
| (d) | $ | 0.43 |
| (d) | $ | 2.25 |
| (d) | Gain (loss) from discontinued operations | — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| Net earnings (loss) | 0.74 |
|
| 0.54 |
| (d,e) | 0.53 |
| (d,e) | 0.43 |
| (d,e) | 2.25 |
| (d,e) | Diluted earnings (loss) per share attributable to International Paper Company common shareholders: |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| |
|
| | Earnings (loss) from continuing operations | 0.74 |
|
| 0.54 |
| (d) | 0.53 |
| (d) | 0.43 |
| (d) | 2.23 |
| (d) | Gain (loss) from discontinued operations | — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| — |
|
| Net earnings (loss) | 0.74 |
|
| 0.54 |
| (d,e) | 0.53 |
| (d,e) | 0.43 |
| (d,e) | 2.23 |
| (d,e) | Dividends per share of common stock | 0.4000 |
| | 0.4000 |
| | 0.4000 |
| | 0.4400 |
| | 1.6400 |
| | Common stock prices | | | | | | | | | | | High | $ | 57.90 |
| | $ | 56.49 |
| | $ | 49.49 |
| | $ | 44.83 |
| | $ | 57.90 |
| | Low | 51.35 |
| | 47.39 |
| | 37.11 |
| | 36.76 |
| | 36.76 |
| |
Note: Since basic and diluted earnings per share are computed independently for each period and category, full year per share amounts may not equal the sum of the four quarters. In addition, the unaudited selected consolidated financial data are derived from our audited consolidated financial statements and have been revised to reflect discontinued operations. |