<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0508</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2025-11-18</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000051434</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>INTERNATIONAL PAPER CO /NEW/</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>IP</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001795221</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Ellis Clay R</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>6400 POPLAR AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MEMPHIS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TN</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>38197</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Senior Vice President</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <aff10b5One>0</aff10b5One>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2025-11-18</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>S</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>18819</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>36.85</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>I</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
                <natureOfOwnership>
                    <value>By Plan</value>
                </natureOfOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
        <nonDerivativeHolding>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>68632</value>
                    <footnoteId id="F2"/>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeHolding>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">As part of the International Paper Company's (the &quot;Company's&quot;) planned divestiture of its Global Cellulose Fibers business to American Industrial Partners (&quot;AIP&quot;), the Company liquidated International Paper common stock held in the Company stock fund of the International Paper Company Salaried Savings Plan and transitioned the resulting cash value for reinvestment in a new savings plan. This transition was an administrative step carried out as part of the broader divestment process and followed established procedures, rather than any discretionary action by eligible contributing employees in the SSP. As a consequence of this liquidation and reinvestment, there was a disposition of units of Shares attributable to Clayton R. Ellis.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">Share numbers rounded.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <remarks>Power of Attorney on file.</remarks>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Vincent T. Smith, attorney-in-fact for Clayton R. Ellis</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2025-12-17</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
