EQUITY (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2021

Equity [Abstract]

Schedule of Stockholders' Equity [Table Text Block]

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2021
In millions, except per share amounts	Common Stock Issued		Paid-in Capital		Retained Earnings		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)		Common Stock Held In Treasury, At Cost		Total International Paper Shareholders’ Equity		Noncontrolling Interests		Total Equity
Balance, January 1	$	449	$	6,325	$	8,070	$	(4,342)	$	2,648	$	7,854	$	14	$	7,868
Issuance of stock for various plans, net	—		(58)		—		—		(84)		26		—		26
Repurchase of stock	—		—		—		—		155		(155)		—		(155)
Common stock dividends $0.5125 per share)	—		—		(205)		—		—		(205)		—		(205)
Transactions of equity method investees	—		—		—		—		—		—		—		—
Comprehensive income (loss)	—		—		349		(111)		—		238		(1)		237
Ending Balance, March 31	$	449	$	6,267	$	8,214	$	(4,453)	$	2,719	$	7,758	$	13	$	7,771

	Three Months Ended March 31, 2020
In millions, except per share amounts	Common Stock Issued		Paid-in Capital		Retained Earnings		Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)		Common Stock Held In Treasury, At Cost		Total International Paper Shareholders’ Equity		Noncontrolling Interests		Total Equity
Balance, January 1	$	449	$	6,297	$	8,408	$	(4,739)	$	2,702	$	7,713	$	5	$	7,718
Adoption of ASU 2016-13 measurement of credit losses on financial instruments	—		—		(2)		—		—		(2)		—		(2)
Issuance of stock for various plans, net	—		(51)		—		—		(92)		41		—		41
Repurchase of stock	—		—		—		—		41		(41)		—		(41)
Common stock dividends ($0.5125 per share)	—		—		(203)		—		—		(203)		—		(203)
Transactions of equity method investees	—		6		—		—		—		6		—		6
Comprehensive income (loss)	—		—		(141)		(516)		—		(657)		(1)		(658)
Ending Balance, March 31	$	449	$	6,252	$	8,062	$	(5,255)	$	2,651	$	6,857	$	4	$	6,861