Consolidated Statement Of Operations - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
NET SALES	[1]	$ 20,580	$ 22,376	$ 23,306
COSTS AND EXPENSES
Cost of products sold		14,373	15,268	15,555
Selling and administrative expenses		1,520	1,647	1,723
Depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested		1,287	1,306	1,328
Distribution expenses		1,551	1,560	1,567
Taxes other than payroll and income taxes		171	170	171
Restructuring and other charges, net		195	57	29
Net (gains) losses on sales and impairments of businesses		465	205	122
Net (gains) losses on sales of equity method investments		(35)	0	0
Antitrust fines		0	32	0
Interest expense, net		444	491	536
Non-operating pension (income) expense		(41)	36	494
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings		650	1,604	1,781
Income tax provision (benefit)		245	634	445
Equity earnings (loss), net of taxes		77	250	336
EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS		482	1,220	1,672
Discontinued operations, net of taxes		0	0	345
NET EARNINGS (LOSS)		482	1,220	2,017
Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests		0	(5)	5
NET EARNINGS (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY		$ 482	$ 1,225	$ 2,012
BASIC EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY COMMON SHAREHOLDERS
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations		$ 1.23	$ 3.10	$ 4.07
Discontinued operations, net of taxes		0	0	0.84
Net earnings (loss)		1.23	3.10	4.91
DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY COMMON SHAREHOLDERS
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations		1.22	3.07	4.02
Discontinued operations, net of taxes		0	0	0.83
Net earnings (loss)		$ 1.22	$ 3.07	$ 4.85

[1] Net sales are attributed to countries based on the location of the seller.