EQUITY Table (Details) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption		$ 73,000,000		$ 73,000,000
Beginning Balance	$ 7,469,000,000	7,265,000,000	$ 7,383,000,000	6,541,000,000
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	7,482,000,000		7,482,000,000			$ 7,362,000,000
Issuance of stock for various plans, net	35,000,000	37,000,000	80,000,000	75,000,000
Repurchase of stock	(231,000,000)	(300,000,000)	(460,000,000)	(331,000,000)
Common stock dividends ($.0000 per share)	(201,000,000)	(200,000,000)	(408,000,000)	(399,000,000)
Transactions of equity method investees	36,000,000	8,000,000	33,000,000	18,000,000
Comprehensive income (loss)	391,000,000	54,000,000	871,000,000	887,000,000
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	17,000,000		17,000,000			21,000,000
Ending Balance	7,499,000,000	6,864,000,000	7,499,000,000	6,864,000,000
Common Stock Issued
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	449,000,000	449,000,000	449,000,000	449,000,000	$ 449,000,000	449,000,000	$ 449,000,000	$ 449,000,000
Paid-in Capital
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	6,229,000,000	6,219,000,000	6,229,000,000	6,219,000,000	6,159,000,000	6,280,000,000	6,175,000,000	6,206,000,000
Issuance of stock for various plans, net	34,000,000	36,000,000	(84,000,000)	(5,000,000)
Transactions of equity method investees	36,000,000	8,000,000	33,000,000	18,000,000
Retained Earnings
Tax cuts and jobs act reclassification from AOCI to retained earnings			529,000,000
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption		73,000,000		73,000,000
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	8,302,000,000	6,988,000,000	8,302,000,000	6,988,000,000	8,211,000,000	7,465,000,000	6,783,000,000	6,180,000,000
Common stock dividends ($.0000 per share)	(201,000,000)	(200,000,000)	(408,000,000)	(399,000,000)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	292,000,000	405,000,000	716,000,000	1,134,000,000
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Tax cuts and jobs act reclassification from AOCI to retained earnings			(529,000,000)
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	(4,870,000,000)	(4,881,000,000)	(4,870,000,000)	(4,881,000,000)	(4,975,000,000)	(4,500,000,000)	(4,530,000,000)	(4,633,000,000)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	105,000,000	(351,000,000)	159,000,000	(248,000,000)
Treasury Stock
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	2,628,000,000	1,931,000,000	2,628,000,000	1,931,000,000	2,398,000,000	2,332,000,000	1,632,000,000	1,680,000,000
Issuance of stock for various plans, net	(1,000,000)	(1,000,000)	(164,000,000)	(80,000,000)
Repurchase of stock	231,000,000	300,000,000	460,000,000	331,000,000
Total International Paper Shareholders’ Equity
Cumulative Effect of New Accounting Principle in Period of Adoption		73,000,000		73,000,000
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Parent	7,482,000,000	6,844,000,000	7,482,000,000	6,844,000,000	7,446,000,000	7,362,000,000	7,245,000,000	6,522,000,000
Issuance of stock for various plans, net	35,000,000	37,000,000	80,000,000	75,000,000
Repurchase of stock	(231,000,000)	(300,000,000)	(460,000,000)	(331,000,000)
Common stock dividends ($.0000 per share)	(201,000,000)	(200,000,000)	(408,000,000)	(399,000,000)
Transactions of equity method investees	36,000,000	8,000,000	33,000,000	18,000,000
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Parent	397,000,000	54,000,000	875,000,000	886,000,000
Noncontrolling Interests
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax, Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	(6,000,000)	0	(4,000,000)	1,000,000
Stockholders' Equity Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest	$ 17,000,000	$ 20,000,000	$ 17,000,000	$ 20,000,000	$ 23,000,000	$ 21,000,000	$ 20,000,000	$ 19,000,000