Financial Information By Industry Segment And Geographic Area (Operating Profit By Industry Segment) (Details) - USD ($)
$ in Millions
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2016
 [2]
Sep. 30, 2016
 [2]
Jun. 30, 2016
 [2]
Mar. 31, 2016
 [2]
Dec. 31, 2015
 [3]
Sep. 30, 2015
 [3]
Jun. 30, 2015
 [3]
Mar. 31, 2015
 [4]
Dec. 31, 2016
Dec. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Interest expense, net                 $ (520) $ (555) $ (607)
Noncontrolling interests / equity earnings adjustment (a) [1]                 1 8 2
Corporate items, net                 67 34 49
Corporate special items, net                 46 238 320
Non-operating pension expense                 610 258 212
Earnings (loss) from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings $ 280 $ 373 $ (14) $ 317 $ 265 $ 329 $ 266 $ 406 956 [2] 1,266 [3] 872
Operating Segments [Member]                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Operating Profit                 2,200 2,359 2,056
Operating Segments [Member] | Industrial Packaging                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Operating Profit                 1,648 1,851 1,893
Operating Segments [Member] | Global Cellulose Fibers                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Operating Profit                 (179) 68 62
Operating Segments [Member] | Printing Papers                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Operating Profit                 540 465 (77)
Operating Segments [Member] | Consumer Packaging                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Operating Profit                 191 (25) 178
Corporate and other (b)                      
Segment Reporting Information [Line Items]                      
Interest expense, net                 $ 520 $ 555 $ 601
[1] Operating profits for industry segments include each segment’s percentage share of the profits of subsidiaries included in that segment that are less than wholly-owned. The pre-tax noncontrolling interests and equity earnings for these subsidiaries is added here to present consolidated earnings from continuing operations before income taxes and equity earnings.
[2] Includes the following pre-tax charges (gains): 2016In millions Q1 Q2 Q3 Q4Riegelwood mill conversion costs $9 $— $— $—India Packaging evaluation write-off — — 17 —Early debt extinguishment costs — — 29 —Write-off of certain regulatory pre-engineering costs — — 8 —Costs associated with the newly acquired pulp business — 5 7 19Asia Box impairment / restructuring 37 28 5 —Gain on sale of investment in Arizona Chemical (8) — — —Turkey mill closure — — — 7Amortization of Weyerhaeuser inventory fair value step-up — — — 19Total $38 $33 $66 $45
[3] 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
[4] Includes 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 — 2Tax impact of other special items — (67) (3) (13)Total $— $(39) $(70) $(11)