Variable Interest Entities And Preferred Securities Of Subsidiaries (Narrative) (Details) a in Thousands, $ in Millions	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2021	Oct. 31, 2007 USD ($) a	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2006 USD ($) a	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2007 USD ($)
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Long-term debt				$ 10,015		$ 10,846
Deferred tax liabilities, other				1,500
Financing Receivable, Gross				7,070		7,051
Letters of credit issued				2,400
Notes receivable, fair value disclosure				2,200		2,300
Long-term debt								$ 2,100
Long-term debt, fair value				2,000		2,100
Variable Interest Entity, Not Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Forestlands average sales | a		1,550
Amount of consideration received		$ 2,400		2,400
ip_timber note maturity date		Oct. 31, 2027
Maturity date		Nov. 05, 2027
Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
International Paper debt obligations held by the Entities				150
Long-term debt				$ 4,200
Timber Notes Maturity Extension			5 years
Letters of credit downgrade period of replacement				60 days
Financing Receivable, Gross				$ 4,800
ip_Extension Loans requiring LC banks to maintain credit rating at or above a specified threshold				1,100
Notes receivable, fair value disclosure				4,700		4,800	$ 4,700
Long-term debt, fair value				4,200		$ 4,300	$ 4,200
Entities [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Forestlands average sales | a					5,600
Amount of consideration received					$ 4,800
Deferred tax liabilities, other				884
Two Thousand Seven Monetized Notes [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
Deferred tax liabilities, other				$ 538
Letters of credit downgrade period of replacement				30 days
Scenario, Forecast [Member] | Variable Interest Entity, Primary Beneficiary [Member]
Variable Interest Entity [Line Items]
ip_timber note maturity date	Aug. 25, 2021