v3.20.2
Description of Business Segments and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Details)
$ / shares in Units, € in Millions
 3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
May 31, 2020
USD ($)
air-craft
$ / shares
shares
Feb. 29, 2020
$ / shares
 [1],[2]
Nov. 30, 2019
USD ($)
air-craft
$ / shares
Aug. 31, 2019
$ / shares
 [1],[2]
May 31, 2019
USD ($)
$ / shares
Feb. 28, 2019
USD ($)
$ / shares
Nov. 30, 2018
$ / shares
 [2],[3]
Aug. 31, 2018
$ / shares
 [2],[3]
May 31, 2020
USD ($)
air-craft
$ / shares
shares
May 31, 2019
USD ($)
Employee
$ / shares
shares
May 31, 2018
USD ($)
$ / shares
shares
May 31, 2020
EUR (€)
air-craft
shares
May 27, 2020
$ / shares
Jan. 26, 2016
shares
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Line Items]                            
Gross contract assets related to in-transit shipments $ 563,000,000       $ 533,000,000       $ 563,000,000 $ 533,000,000        
Contract assets net of deferred unearned revenue 456,000,000       364,000,000       456,000,000 364,000,000        
Contract liabilities related to advance payments from customers $ 10,000,000       11,000,000       $ 10,000,000 11,000,000        
Payment terms of customer contracts                 Under the typical payment terms of our customer contracts, the customer pays at periodic intervals (e.g., every 15 days, 30 days, 45 days, etc.) for shipments included on invoices received. It is not customary business practice to extend payment terms past 90 days, and as such, we do not have a practice of including a significant financing component within our revenue contracts with customers.          
Advertising and promotion expenses                 $ 427,000,000 468,000,000 $ 442,000,000      
Depreciable life range for majority of aircraft costs                 15 to 30 years          
Depreciation expense, excluding gains and losses on sales of property and equipment                 $ 3,615,000,000 3,353,000,000 3,095,000,000      
Interest costs capitalized                 $ 54,000,000 64,000,000 61,000,000      
Number of aircraft to be permanently retired from service | air-craft     10                      
Number of aircraft engines to be permanently retired from service | air-craft     12                      
Noncash impairment charges     $ 66,000,000                      
Noncash impairment charges net of tax     $ 50,000,000                      
Noncash impairment charges net of tax per diluted share | $ / shares     $ 0.19                      
Number of aircraft temporarily idled | air-craft     7                      
Number of Idle Aircraft | air-craft 14               14     14    
Number of months aircraft remained idle                 an average of five months          
Gain on sale of TNT express business                   $ 8,000,000 $ 85,000,000      
Denominated debt as a net investment hedge | €                       € 392    
Stock repurchase program number of shares authorized to be repurchased | shares                           25,000,000
Number of shares repurchased | shares                 20,000.00 6,600,000 4,300,000      
Treasury stock acquired, average cost per share | $ / shares                 $ 156.90 $ 222.94 $ 237.45      
Payments for repurchase of common stock                 $ 3,000,000 $ 1,480,000,000 $ 1,017,000,000      
Stock repurchase program, remaining number of shares authorized to be repurchased | shares 5,100,000               5,100,000     5,100,000    
Dividends payable, date declared                 Jun. 15, 2020          
Dividends payable amount per share | $ / shares $ 0.65               $ 0.65       $ 0.65  
Dividends payable, date to be paid                 Jul. 13, 2020          
Dividends payable, date of record                 Jun. 29, 2020          
Number of employees left or voluntarily leaving | Employee                   1,500        
Business realignment costs         $ 316,000,000 $ 4,000,000       $ 320,000,000        
Diluted | $ / shares $ (1.28) [1],[2] $ 1.20 $ 2.13 [1],[2] $ 2.84 $ (7.56) [2],[3] $ 2.80 [2],[3] $ 3.51 $ 3.10 $ 4.90 $ 2.03 $ 16.79      
Business Realignment Activities [Member]                            
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Line Items]                            
Business realignment costs paid at departure                 $ 50,000,000 $ 220,000,000        
Amended and Restated Five-Year Credit Agreement [Member]                            
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Line Items]                            
Line Of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity $ 2,000,000,000.0               2,000,000,000.0          
Amended and Restated 364-Day Credit Agreement [Member]                            
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Line Items]                            
Line Of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity $ 1,500,000,000               $ 1,500,000,000          
Line of Credit Facility, Term 364 days                          
Amendments to Credit Agreements [Member]                            
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Line Items]                            
Dividends payable amount per share | $ / shares $ 0.65               $ 0.65          
Minimum [Member]                            
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Line Items]                            
Intangible assets amortization periods                 3 years          
Maximum [Member]                            
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Line Items]                            
Intangible assets amortization periods                 15 years          
FedEx Express Segment [Member]                            
Organization Consolidation And Presentation Of Financial Statements [Line Items]                            
Gain on sale of TNT express business                     $ 85,000,000      
[1] The fourth quarter, third quarter, second quarter and first quarter of 2020 include $63 million, $72 million, $64 million and $71 million, respectively, of TNT Express integration expenses. The fourth quarter includes $369 million of goodwill and other asset impairment charges associated with the FedEx Office and FedEx Logistics operating segments and a net loss of $794 million related to the annual MTM retirement plans accounting adjustment. The second quarter of 2020 includes asset impairment charges of $66 million related to the permanent retirement of 10 Airbus A310-300 aircraft and 12 related engines at FedEx Express.
[2] The sum of the quarterly earnings per share may not equal annual amounts due to differences in the weighted-average number of shares outstanding during the respective periods.
[3] The fourth quarter, third quarter, second quarter and first quarter of 2019 include $84 million, $69 million, $114 million and $121 million, respectively, of TNT Express integration expenses (including any restructuring charges). The fourth quarter and third quarter of 2019 include business realignment costs of $316 million and $4 million, respectively. The fourth quarter includes a net loss of $3.9 billion related to the annual MTM retirement plans accounting adjustment. The second quarter of 2019 includes costs incurred in connection with the settlement of a legal matter involving FedEx Ground of $46 million.