Consolidated Statement of Operations (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Net Sales	$ 5,517us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet	$ 5,724us-gaap_SalesRevenueNet
Costs and Expenses
Cost of products sold	3,844	4,034
Selling and administrative expenses	406	428
Depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested	323	347
Distribution expenses	357	366
Taxes other than payroll and income taxes	44us-gaap_TaxesOther	46us-gaap_TaxesOther
Restructuring and other charges	0ip_RestructuringAndOtherRelatedCharges	499ip_RestructuringAndOtherRelatedCharges
Interest expense, net	137us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNet	143us-gaap_InterestIncomeExpenseNet
Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations Before Income Taxes and Equity Earnings	406	(139)
Income tax provision (benefit)	130us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit	(80)us-gaap_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefit
Equity earnings (loss), net of taxes	35	(33)
Earnings (Loss) From Continuing Operations	311	(92)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	(7)
Net Earnings (Loss)	311us-gaap_ProfitLoss	(99)us-gaap_ProfitLoss
Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(2)	(4)
Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to International Paper Company	313us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	(95)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss
Basic Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to International Paper Company Common Shareholders
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	$ 0.74	$ (0.20)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)
Net earnings (loss)	$ 0.74us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic	$ (0.21)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareBasic
Diluted Earnings (Loss) Per Share Attributable to International Paper Company Common Shareholders
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	$ 0.74	$ (0.20)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)
Net earnings (loss)	$ 0.74us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted	$ (0.21)us-gaap_EarningsPerShareDiluted
Average Shares of Common Stock Outstanding - assuming dilution	423.7	435.6
Cash Dividends Per Common Share	$ 0.4000	$ 0.3500
Amounts Attributable to International Paper Company Common Shareholders
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations	313	(88)
Discontinued operations, net of taxes	0	(7)
Net Earnings (Loss) Attributable to International Paper Company	$ 313us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss	$ (95)us-gaap_NetIncomeLoss

Total costs related to goods produced and sold during the reporting period; and the net amount of other income and expense amounts, the components of which are not separately disclosed on the income statement, resulting from ancillary business-related activities (that is, excluding major activities considered part of the normal operations of the business) also known as other nonoperating income (expense) recognized for the period. Such amounts may include: (a) dividends, (b) interest on securities, (c) net gains or losses on securities, (d) unusual costs, (e) gains or losses on foreign exchange transactions, and (f) miscellaneous other income and expense items.

No definition available.