DEBT Footnote	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2018
Debt Disclosure [Abstract]
Debt [Note Text Block]	NOTE 16 - DEBT In December 2017, International Paper received $660 million in cash proceeds from a new loan entered into as part of the transfer of the North American Consumer Packaging business to a subsidiary of Graphic Packing Holding Company discussed in Note 9 and Note 11. The Company used the cash proceeds, together with available cash, to pay down existing debt of approximately $900 million. The $660 million term loan was subsequently assumed by a subsidiary of Graphic Packaging Holding Company, on January 1, 2018 and was classified as Liabilities held for sale at December 31, 2017, in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet. In June 2016, International Paper entered into a commercial paper program with a borrowing capacity of $750 million. In June 2018, the borrowing capacity of the commercial paper program was increased to $1.0 billion. Under the terms of the program, individual maturities on borrowings may vary, but not exceed one year from the date of issue. Interest bearing notes may be issued either as fixed or floating rate notes. As of September 30, 2018, the Company had $400 million of borrowings outstanding under the program at a weighted average interest rate of 2.34%. At September 30, 2018, the fair value of International Paper’s $11.3 billion of debt was approximately $11.5 billion. The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt is estimated based on the quoted market prices for the same or similar issues. International Paper’s long-term debt is classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy, which is further defined in Note 14 in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.

In December 2017, International Paper received $660 million in cash proceeds from a new loan entered into as part of the transfer of the North American Consumer Packaging business to a subsidiary of Graphic Packing Holding Company discussed in Note 9 and Note 11. The Company used the cash proceeds, together with available cash, to pay down existing debt of approximately $900 million. The $660 million term loan was subsequently assumed by a subsidiary of Graphic Packaging Holding Company, on January 1, 2018 and was classified as Liabilities held for sale at December 31, 2017, in the accompanying consolidated balance sheet.

In June 2016, International Paper entered into a commercial paper program with a borrowing capacity of $750 million. In June 2018, the borrowing capacity of the commercial paper program was increased to $1.0 billion. Under the terms of the program, individual maturities on borrowings may vary, but not exceed one year from the date of issue. Interest bearing notes may be issued either as fixed or floating rate notes. As of September 30, 2018, the Company had $400 million of borrowings outstanding under the program at a weighted average interest rate of 2.34%.

At September 30, 2018, the fair value of International Paper’s $11.3 billion of debt was approximately $11.5 billion. The fair value of the Company’s long-term debt is estimated based on the quoted market prices for the same or similar issues. International Paper’s long-term debt is classified as Level 2 within the fair value hierarchy, which is further defined in Note 14 in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017.