Summary of Performance Share Plan Activity (Parenthetical) (Detail)	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2012
Share Based Compensation [Line Items]
Shares held for payout	34,280

Share Based Compensation Arrangement by Share Based Payment Award, Equity Instruments Other than Options, Shares held For Payout in Future Periods.

No definition available.

Name:	ip_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsSharesHeldForPayoutInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	ip_
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration