RECENT ACCOUNTING DEVELOPMENTS Narrative (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($)
Accounting Changes and Error Corrections [Abstract]
Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Reclassification from AOCI to Retained Earnings, Net of Tax	$ 529

Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, Reclassification from AOCI to Retained Earnings, Net of Tax

No definition available.

Name:	ip_TaxCutsandJobsActReclassificationfromAOCItoRetainedEarningsNetofTax
Namespace Prefix:	ip_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration