Retirement Plans (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2017

Dec. 31, 2016

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

Net Periodic Pension Expense For Qualified And Nonqualified U.S. Defined Benefit Plans [Table Text Block]

Net periodic pension expense for qualified and nonqualified U.S. and non-U.S. defined benefit plans comprised the following:

	2017						2016						2015
In millions	U.S. Plans			Non- U.S. Plans			U.S. Plans			Non- U.S. Plans			U.S. Plans			Non- U.S. Plans
Service cost	$	160		$	4		$	158		$	4		$	161		$	6
Interest cost	536			9			580			9			597			10
Expected return on plan assets	(774		)	(11		)	(815		)	(10		)	(783		)	(11		)
Actuarial loss / (gain)	339			2			400			1			428			1
Amortization of prior service cost	28			—			41			—			43			—
Curtailment loss / (gain) (a)	23			—			—			—			—			—
Settlement loss	383			1			445			—			15			—
Special termination benefits (a)	22			—			—			—			—			—
Net periodic pension expense	$	717		$	5		$	809		$	4		$	461		$	6

(a) Recorded in Discontinued operations in the consolidated statement of operations.

Pension Allocations By Type Of Fund And Target Allocations [Table Text Block]

International Paper’s U.S. pension allocations by type of fund at December 31, and target allocations were as follows:

Asset Class	2017		2016		Target Allocations
Equity accounts	49	%	51	%	42% - 53%
Fixed income accounts	36	%	27	%	32% - 44%
Real estate accounts	10	%	10	%	7% - 13%
Other	5	%	12	%	3% - 8%
Total	100	%	100	%

Schedule of Allocation of Plan Assets [Table Text Block]

The fair values of International Paper’s pension plan assets at December 31, 2017 and 2016 by asset class are shown below. Plan assets included an immaterial amount of International Paper common stock at December 31, 2016. Hedge funds disclosed in the following table are allocated equally between equity and fixed income accounts for target allocation purposes.

Fair Value Measurement at December 31, 2017
Asset Class	Total			Quoted Prices in Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)			Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
In millions
Equities – domestic	$	1,291		$	1,291	$	—		$	—
Equities – international	2,132			2,119		13			—
Corporate bonds	1,177			—		1,177			—
Government securities	2,778			—		2,778			—
Mortgage backed securities	1			—		—			1
Other fixed income	(802		)	—		(814		)	12
Commodities	—			—		—			—
Derivatives	8			—		(8		)	16
Cash and cash equivalents	397			397		—			—
Other investments:
Equities - domestic	708
Equities - international	866
Corporate bonds	66
Other fixed income	232
Hedge funds	927
Private equity	481
Real estate	1,106
Total Investments	$	11,368		$	3,807	$	3,146		$	29

Fair Value Measurement at December 31, 2016
Asset Class	Total			Quoted Prices in Active Markets For Identical Assets (Level 1)		Significant Observable Inputs (Level 2)		Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)
In millions
Equities – domestic	$	2,208		$	1,380	$	828	$	—
Equities – international	2,575			1,806		769		—
Corporate bonds	1,018			—		1,018		—
Government securities	870			—		870		—
Mortgage backed securities	41			—		40		1
Other fixed income	245			—		234		11
Commodities	324			—		324		—
Derivatives	(71		)	—		—		(71		)
Cash and cash equivalents	322			322		—		—
Other investments:
Hedge funds	891
Private equity	472
Real estate	1,015
Risk parity funds	402
Total Investments	$	10,312		$	3,508	$	4,083	$	(59	)

Fair Value, Investments, Entities that Calculate Net Asset Value Per Share [Table Text Block]

he following investments are measured at NAV and are not classified in the fair value hierarchy. Some of the investments have redemption limitations, restrictions, and notice requirements which are further explained below.

Other Investments at December 31, 2017
Investment	Fair Value		Unfunded Commitments		Redemption Frequency	Remediation Notice Period
Equities - domestic	$	708	$	—	Daily to monthly	1-5 days
Equities - international	866		—		Daily to monthly	1-5 days
Corporate bonds	66		—		Daily to monthly	1-5 days
Other fixed income	232		—		Daily to monthly	1-5 days
Hedge funds	927		—		Daily to annually	1 - 100 days
Private equity	481		262		None	None
Real estate	1,106		121		Quarterly	45 - 60 days
Total	$	4,386	$	383

Other Investments at December 31, 2016
Investment	Fair Value		Unfunded Commitments		Redemption Frequency	Remediation Notice Period
Hedge funds	$	891	$	—	Daily to annually	1 - 100 days
Private equity	472		226		None	None
Real estate	1,015		224		Quarterly	45 - 60 days
Risk parity funds	402		—		Monthly	5 - 15 days
Total	$	2,780	$	450

Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3) [Table Text Block]

The following is a reconciliation of the assets that are classified using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) at December 31, 2017.

Fair Value Measurements Using Significant Unobservable Inputs (Level 3)

In millions	Mortgage backed securities		Other fixed income		Derivatives			Total
Beginning balance at December 31, 2015	$	—	$	10	$	(20	)	$	(10	)
Actual return on plan assets:
Relating to assets still held at the reporting date	—		1		(66		)	(65		)
Relating to assets sold during the period	—		—		(24		)	(24		)
Purchases, sales and settlements	1		—		39			40
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3	—		—		—			—
Ending balance at December 31, 2016	$	1	$	11	$	(71	)	$	(59	)
Actual return on plan assets:
Relating to assets still held at the reporting date	—		1		94			95
Relating to assets sold during the period	—		—		(23		)	(23		)
Purchases, sales and settlements	—		—		16			16
Transfers in and/or out of Level 3	—		—		—			—
Ending balance at December 31, 2017	$	1	$	12	$	16		$	29

Retirement Plans [Member]

Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]

Changes in Projected Benefit Obligations, Fair Value of Plan Assets, and Funded Status of Plan [Table Text Block]

	2017						2016
In millions	U.S. Plans			Non- U.S. Plans			U.S. Plans			Non- U.S. Plans
Change in projected benefit obligation:
Benefit obligation, January 1	$	13,683		$	219		$	14,438		$	204
Service cost	160			4			158			4
Interest cost	536			9			580			9
Settlements	(1,295		)	(4		)	(1,222		)	(2		)
Actuarial loss (gain)	913			2			495			35
Acquisitions	—			5			1			—
Divestitures	33			—			—			—
Plan amendments	3			—			—			(1		)
Benefits paid	(769		)	(8		)	(767		)	(9		)
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate movements	—			20			—			(21		)
Benefit obligation, December 31	$	13,264		$	247		$	13,683		$	219
Change in plan assets:
Fair value of plan assets, January 1	$	10,312		$	153		$	10,923		$	155
Actual return on plan assets	1,830			10			607			17
Company contributions	1,290			10			771			8
Benefits paid	(769		)	(8		)	(767		)	(9		)
Settlements	(1,295		)	(4		)	(1,222		)	(2		)
Other	—			3			—			—
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate movements	—			12			—			(16		)
Fair value of plan assets, December 31	$	11,368		$	176		$	10,312		$	153
Funded status, December 31	$	(1,896	)	$	(71	)	$	(3,371	)	$	(66	)
Amounts recognized in the consolidated balance sheet:
Non-current asset	$	—		$	5		$	—		$	6
Current liability	(30		)	(3		)	(40		)	(3		)
Non-current liability	(1,866		)	(73		)	(3,331		)	(69		)
	$	(1,896	)	$	(71	)	$	(3,371	)	$	(66	)

Schedule Of Amounts In Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income [Table Text Block]

Amounts recognized in accumulated other comprehensive income under ASC 715 (pre-tax):
Prior service cost	$	88	$	(1	)	$	125	$	—
Net actuarial loss	3,893		67			4,757		61
	$	3,981	$	66		$	4,882	$	61

Pension Benefit Adjustments Recognized In Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income [Table Text Block]

The components of the $901 million and $5 million change related to U.S. plans and non-U.S. plans, respectively, in the amounts recognized in OCI during 2017 consisted of:

In millions	U.S. Plans			Non- U.S. Plans
Current year actuarial (gain) loss	$	(143	)	$	2
Amortization of actuarial loss	(339		)	(2		)
Current year prior service cost	3			—
Amortization of prior service cost	(28		)	—
Settlements	(383		)	(1		)
Curtailments	(11		)	—
Effect of foreign currency exchange rate movements	—			6
	$	(901	)	$	5

Schedule of Accumulated Benefit Obligations in Excess of Fair Value of Plan Assets [Table Text Block]

The following table summarizes information for pension plans with an accumulated benefit obligation in excess of plan assets at December 31, 2017 and 2016:

	2017				2016
In millions	U.S. Plans		Non-U.S. Plans		U.S. Plans		Non-U.S. Plans
Projected benefit obligation	$	13,264	$	215	$	13,683	$	190
Accumulated benefit obligation	13,161		200		13,535		177
Fair value of plan assets	11,368		139		10,312		118

Schedule of Assumptions Used [Table Text Block]

Major actuarial assumptions used in determining the benefit obligations and net periodic pension cost for our defined benefit plans are presented in the following table:

	2017				2016				2015
	U.S. Plans		Non- U.S. Plans		U.S. Plans		Non- U.S. Plans		U.S. Plans		Non- U.S. Plans
Actuarial assumptions used to determine benefit obligations as of December 31:
Discount rate	3.60	%	3.59	%	4.10	%	3.88	%	4.40	%	4.64	%
Rate of compensation increase	3.75	%	4.06	%	3.75	%	4.20	%	3.75	%	4.12	%
Actuarial assumptions used to determine net periodic pension cost for years ended December 31:
Discount rate (a)	4.03	%	3.88	%	4.05	%	4.72	%	4.10	%	4.72	%
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets	7.50	%	6.73	%	7.75	%	6.55	%	7.75	%	6.64	%
Rate of compensation increase	3.75	%	4.20	%	3.75	%	4.03	%	3.75	%	4.03	%

(a) Represents the weighted average rate for the U.S. qualified plans in 2017 and 2016 due to the remeasurements

Effect Of A 25 Basis Point Decrease On Net Pension Expense [Table Text Block]

The following illustrates the effect on pension expense for 2018 of a 25 basis point decrease in the above assumptions:

In millions	2018
Expense/(Income):
Discount rate	$	35
Expected long-term rate of return on plan assets	27
Rate of compensation increase	(1		)

Projected Future Pension Benefit Payments, Excluding Any Termination Benefits [Table Text Block]

At December 31, 2017, projected future pension benefit payments, excluding any termination benefits, were as follows:

In millions
2018	$	708
2019	709
2020	718
2021	727
2022	735
2023-2027	3,763