Consolidated Statement Of Changes In Equity - USD ($)	Total	Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [Member]	Common Stock Issued	Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Retained Earnings Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [Member]	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [Member]	Common Stock Held In Treasury, At Cost	Total International Paper Shareholders’ Equity	Total International Paper Shareholders’ Equity Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment [Member]	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 7,383,000,000	$ 0	$ 449,000,000	$ 6,280,000,000	$ 7,465,000,000	$ 529,000,000	$ (4,500,000,000)	$ (529,000,000)	$ 2,332,000,000	$ 7,362,000,000	$ 0	$ 21,000,000
Issuance of stock for various plans, net	147,000,000			(18,000,000)					(165,000,000)	147,000,000
Repurchase of stock	(535,000,000)								535,000,000	(535,000,000)
Dividends	(811,000,000)				(811,000,000)					(811,000,000)
Transactions of equity method investees	35,000,000			35,000,000						35,000,000		0
Divestiture of noncontrolling interests	(11,000,000)									0		(11,000,000)
Comprehensive income (loss)	1,510,000,000		0	0	1,225,000,000		290,000,000		0	1,515,000,000		(5,000,000)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2019	7,718,000,000	$ (2,000,000)	449,000,000	6,297,000,000	8,408,000,000	$ (2,000,000)	(4,739,000,000)		2,702,000,000	7,713,000,000	$ (2,000,000)	5,000,000
Issuance of stock for various plans, net	88,000,000			(8,000,000)					(96,000,000)	88,000,000
Repurchase of stock	(42,000,000)								42,000,000	(42,000,000)
Dividends	(818,000,000)				(818,000,000)					(818,000,000)
Transactions of equity method investees	36,000,000			36,000,000						36,000,000		0
Divestiture of noncontrolling interests	9,000,000									0		9,000,000
Comprehensive income (loss)	879,000,000		0	0	482,000,000		397,000,000		0	879,000,000		0
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2020	7,868,000,000		449,000,000	6,325,000,000	8,070,000,000		(4,342,000,000)		2,648,000,000	7,854,000,000		14,000,000
Sylvamo Corporation spin-off	43,000,000			(1,729,000,000)			1,773,000,000			44,000,000		(1,000,000)
Issuance of stock for various plans, net	143,000,000			54,000,000					(89,000,000)	143,000,000
Repurchase of stock	(839,000,000)								839,000,000	(839,000,000)
Dividends	(793,000,000)				(793,000,000)					(793,000,000)
Transactions of equity method investees	18,000,000			18,000,000						18,000,000
Divestiture of noncontrolling interests	(13,000,000)									0		(13,000,000)
Comprehensive income (loss)	2,655,000,000		0	0	1,752,000,000		903,000,000		0	2,655,000,000		0
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 9,082,000,000		$ 449,000,000	$ 4,668,000,000	$ 9,029,000,000		$ (1,666,000,000)		$ 3,398,000,000	$ 9,082,000,000		$ 0