Activity Between Company and Entities (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2011
Entities
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 12	[1]	$ 12	[1]	$ 20	[1]	$ 25	[1]
Expense	20	[1]	19	[1]	40	[1]	39	[1]
Cash receipts	0	[2]	0	[2]	15	[2]	14	[2]
Cash payments	0	[3]	0	[3]	40	[3]	40	[3]
2001 Financing Entities
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Revenue							1	[4]
Expense							3	[4]
Cash receipts							0	[5]
Cash payments							3	[6]
2002 Financing Entities
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Revenue	0	[7]	1	[7]	0	[7]	2	[7]
Expense	0	[8]	1	[8]	0	[8]	3	[8]
Cash receipts	141	[9]	0	[9]	252	[9]	1	[9]
Cash payments	48	[10]	51	[10]	159	[10]	53	[10]
2007 Financing Entities
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Revenue	4	[11]			6	[11]
Expense	5	[8]			9	[8]
Cash receipts	4	[12]			7	[12]
Cash payments	$ 5	[13]			$ 10	[13]

[1] The net expense related to the Company's interest in the Entities is included in Interest expense, net in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations, as International Paper has and intends to affect its legal right to offset as discussed above.

[2] The cash receipts are equity distributions from the Entities to International Paper.

[3] The semi-annual payments are related to interest on the associated debt obligations discussed above.

[4] The net expense related to the Company's interest in the 2001 financing entities is included in Interest expense, net in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations, as International Paper has and intends to affect its legal right to offset as discussed above.

[5] The cash receipts are equity distributions from the 2001 financing entities to International Paper.

[6] The cash payments are related to interest on the associated debt obligations discussed above.

[7] The revenue is included in Equity earnings (losses) in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.

[8] The expense is in included in Interest expense, net in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.

[9] The cash receipts are receipts, including interest, from the maturity of the 2002 Monetized Notes.

[10] The payments include both interest and principal on the associated debt obligations.

[11] The revenue is included in Interest expense, net in the accompanying consolidated statement of operations.

[12] The cash receipts are interest received on the Financial assets of special purpose entities.

[13] The payments are interest paid on Nonrecourse financial liabilities of special purpose entities.