Consolidated Statement Of Operations - USD ($) $ in Millions		12 Months Ended
		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Income Statement [Abstract]
NET SALES		$ 22,365		$ 23,617		$ 23,483
COSTS AND EXPENSES
Cost of products sold		15,468		16,254		16,282
Selling and administrative expenses		1,645		1,793		1,796
Depreciation, amortization and cost of timber harvested	[1]	1,294		1,406		1,531
Distribution expenses		1,406		1,521		1,583
Taxes other than payroll and income taxes		168		180		178
Restructuring and other charges		252		846		156
Impairment of goodwill and other intangibles		137		100		127
Net (gains) losses on sales and impairments of businesses		174		38		3
Net bargain purchase gain on acquisition of business		0		0		(13)
Interest expense, net		555		607		612
EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS BEFORE INCOME TAXES AND EQUITY EARNINGS		1,266	[2]	872	[3]	1,228
Income tax provision (benefit)		466		123		(498)
Equity earnings (loss), net of taxes		117		(200)		(39)
EARNINGS (LOSS) FROM CONTINUING OPERATIONS		917		549		1,687
Discontinued operations, net of taxes		0		(13)	[4]	(309)
NET EARNINGS (LOSS)		917		536		1,378
Less: Net earnings (loss) attributable to noncontrolling interests		(21)		(19)		(17)
NET EARNINGS (LOSS) ATTRIBUTABLE TO INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY		$ 938	[2],[5]	$ 555	[3],[4],[6]	$ 1,395
BASIC EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY COMMON SHAREHOLDERS
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations		$ 2.25	[2]	$ 1.33	[3]	$ 3.85
Discontinued operations, net of taxes		0.00		(0.03)	[4]	(0.70)
Net earnings (loss)		2.25	[2],[5]	1.30	[3],[4],[6]	3.15
DILUTED EARNINGS (LOSS) PER SHARE ATTRIBUTABLE TO INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY COMMON SHAREHOLDERS
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations		2.23	[2]	1.31	[3]	3.80
Discontinued operations, net of taxes		0.00		(0.02)	[4]	(0.69)
Net earnings (loss)		$ 2.23	[2],[5]	$ 1.29	[3],[4],[6]	$ 3.11
AMOUNTS ATTRIBUTABLE TO INTERNATIONAL PAPER COMPANY COMMON SHAREHOLDERS
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations		$ 938		$ 568		$ 1,704
Discontinued operations, net of taxes		0		(13)	[4]	(309)
Net earnings (loss)		$ 938	[2],[5]	$ 555	[3],[4],[6]	$ 1,395

[1] Excludes accelerated depreciation related to the closure and/or repurposing of mills.

[2] Includes the following pre-tax charges (gains): 2015In millions Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4Riegelwood mill conversion costs, net of proceeds from sale of the Carolina Coated Bristols brand $— $(14) $7 $15Timber monetization restructuring — — 17 (1)Early debt extinguishment costs — 207 — —Refund and state tax credits — (4) — —IP-Sun JV impairment — — 186 (12)Legal reserve adjustment — — — 15Impairment of Orsa goodwill and trade name intangible — — — 137Other items — 1 1 4Total $— $190 $211 $158

[3] Includes the following pre-tax charges (gains): 2014 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4Temple-Inland integration $12 $2 $1 $1Courtland mill shutdown 495 49 3 7Early debt extinguishment costs — 262 13 1India legal contingency resolution — — (20) —Multi-employer pension plan withdrawal liability — — 35 —Foreign tax amnesty program — — 32 —Asia Industrial Packaging goodwill impairment — — — 100Loss on sale by investee and impairment of investment — — — 47Other items 4 (4) 13 (1)Total $511 $309 $77 $155

[4] Includes the after-tax operating earnings of the xpedx business prior to the spin-off and the following after-tax charges (gains): 2014 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4xpedx spinoff $10 $20 $(14) $—Building Products divestiture 2 — (2) 9xpedx restructuring — (1) — —Total $12 $19 $(16) $9

[5] ncludes the following tax expenses (benefits): 2015 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4Tax expense for cash pension $— $23 $— $—Tax benefit related to IP-Sun JV — — (67) —Other items — 5 — 2Total $— $28 $(67) $2

[6] Includes the following tax expenses (benefits): 2014 Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4State legislative tax change $10 $— $— $—Internal restructuring — — — (90)Other items (1) — — —Total $9 $— $— $(90)