EARNINGS PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY COMMON SHAREHOLDERS (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Millions, $ in Millions		3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
		Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Line Items]
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations		$ 227	$ 174	$ 540	$ 86
Effect of dilutive securities (a)	[1]	0	0	0	0
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations - assuming dilution		$ 227	$ 174	$ 540	$ 86
Average common shares outstanding		420.0	428.9	420.6	432.2
Average common shares outstanding - assuming dilution		421.9	432.1	423.4	435.9
Basic earnings (loss) from continuing operations per common share		$ 0.54	$ 0.40	$ 1.28	$ 0.20
Diluted earnings (loss) from continuing operations per common share		$ 0.54	$ 0.40	$ 1.28	$ 0.20
Restricted Stock Performance Share Plan [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Line Items]
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	[1]	1.9	3.1	2.8	3.6
Equity Option [Member]
Earnings Per Share, Basic and Diluted [Line Items]
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	[1]	0.0	0.1	0.0	0.1

[1] Securities are not included in the table in periods when antidilutive.