VARIABLE INTEREST ENTITIES AND PREFERRED SECURITIES OF SUBSIDIARIES (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2007 acre	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2006	Dec. 31, 2014	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2007
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Forestlands acreage sales	1,550,000
International Paper debt obligations held by the Entities		$ 9,100,000,000
Remainder of the borrowing included in long-term debt		8,461,000,000			8,631,000,000		2,140,000,000
Additional debt included in notes payable and current maturities		664,000,000			742,000,000
Letters of credit issued that support Timber Notes	2,380,000,000
The percent of letters of credit supporting Timber Notes and Monetized Note that are cash collateralized		100.00%
Fair value of notes receivable as of acquisition date						2,090,000,000
Notes receivable, fair value disclosure		2,180,000,000
Fair value of financial assets as of acquisition date							2,030,000,000
Long-term debt, fair value		2,080,000,000
Accretion Income for Amortization of Purchase Accounting Adjustment, Financial Assets		5,000,000	5,000,000
Accretion Expense for Amortization of Purchase Accounting Adjustment, Financial Liabiities		2,000,000	2,000,000
Entities [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Other		1,400,000,000
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Amount of consideration received	2,380,000,000			4,800,000,000
Contribution of Class A interests in the Borrower Entities to other newly formed entities in December 2006				200,000,000
Contribution of International Paper promissory notes, to other newly formed entities				400,000,000
Entities acquired International Paper debt obligations for cash				4,800,000,000
International Paper debt obligations held by the Entities				5,200,000,000
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member] | Class B Interests In Entities [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Class B interests held in entities in December 2006		5,200,000,000		5,000,000,000
International Paper debt obligations held by the Entities		5,400,000,000			5,300,000,000
Remainder of the borrowing included in long-term debt		51,000,000			50,000,000
Additional debt included in notes payable and current maturities		107,000,000			107,000,000
Timber Notes [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Forestlands acreage sales				5,600,000
Letters of credit downgrade period of replacement		60 days
2007 Financing Entities [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Letters of credit downgrade period of replacement		30 days
Deferred Tax Liabilities, Other		$ 840,000,000