Document And Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Feb. 21, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Document Information [Line Items]
Entity Registrant Name	INTERNATIONAL PAPER CO /NEW/
Entity Central Index Key	0000051434
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2012
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		441,207,804
Trading Symbol	ip
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Public Float			$ 12,533,753,892