2.2.0.25truefalse1040 - Disclosure - CASH AND INVESTMENTS - Additional Information (Detail)truefalseIn Millionsfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$eol_PE10216---1010-K0013_STD_365_20101231_0http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001090727duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00pureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepure0iso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170iso4217_USD_per_sharesDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instanceshares0sharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instanceshares0YearStandardhttp://www.ups.com/20101231Yearups0PersonStandardhttp://www.ups.com/20101231Personups0CreditFacilityStandardhttp://www.ups.com/20101231CreditFacilityups0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($) / shares
USD ($)
$eol_PE10216---1010-K0013_STD_365_20091231_0http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001090727duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00iso4217_USD_per_sharesDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instanceshares0iso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217
USDiso42170pureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepure0sharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instanceshares0YearStandardhttp://www.ups.com/20101231Yearups0USDUSD$3falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$eol_PE10216---1010-K0013_STD_366_20081231_0http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001090727duration2008-01-01T00:00:002008-12-31T00:00:00iso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170iso4217_USD_per_sharesDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instanceshares0pureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepure0sharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instanceshares0YearStandardhttp://www.ups.com/20101231Yearups0USDUSD$4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesMajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis} : Asset-backed Securities
4/1/2010 - 6/30/2010
USD ($)
$eol_PE10216---1010-K0013_STD_91_20100630_0_410838x400296http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001090727duration2010-04-01T00:00:002010-06-30T00:00:00falsefalseAsset-backed Securitiesus-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesMajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_AssetBackedSecuritiesMemberus-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesMajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxisexplicitMemberiso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$5falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesMajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis} : Collateralized Securities
4/1/2009 - 6/30/2009
USD ($)
$eol_PE10216---1010-K0013_STD_91_20090630_0_410838x401035http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001090727duration2009-04-01T00:00:002009-06-30T00:00:00falsefalseCollateralized Securitiesus-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesMajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_CollateralizedSecuritiesMemberus-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesMajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxisexplicitMemberiso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$6falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesMajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis} : Collateralized Securities
1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
USD ($)
$eol_PE10216---1010-K0013_STD_366_20081231_0_410838x401035http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001090727duration2008-01-01T00:00:002008-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseCollateralized Securitiesus-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesMajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_CollateralizedSecuritiesMemberus-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesMajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxisexplicitMemberiso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$7falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesMajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis} : Self-insurance requirements
12/31/2010
USD ($)
$eol_PE10216---1010-K0013_STD_0_20101231_0_410838x432222http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001090727instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseSelf-insurance requirementsus-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesMajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiups_SelfInsuranceProgramMemberus-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesMajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxisexplicitMemberiso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$8falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesMajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxis} : Self-insurance requirements
12/31/2009
USD ($)
$eol_PE10216---1010-K0013_STD_0_20091231_0_410838x432222http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001090727instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseSelf-insurance requirementsus-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesMajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiups_SelfInsuranceProgramMemberus-gaap_ScheduleOfAvailableForSaleSecuritiesMajorTypesOfDebtAndEquitySecuritiesAxisexplicitMemberiso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2true0us-gaap_ScheduleOfGainLossOnInvestmentsIncludingMarketableSecuritiesAndInvestmentsHeldAtCostIncomeStatementReportedAmountsSummaryLineItemsus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse0
0falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringLine items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.falsefalse3false0ups_PerpetualPreferredSecuritiesAndAuctionRateSecuritiesAtCostupsfalsedebitinstantPerpetual Preferred Securities, and Auction Rate Securities at Costfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5truefalsefalse4200000042falsetruefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryPerpetual Preferred Se
curities, and Auction Rate Securities at CostNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse4false0ups_AuctionRateSecuritiesAtCostupsfalsedebitinstantAuction rate securities, at Costfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefals
e1truefalsefalse144000000144falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse128000000128falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalset
ruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAuction rate securities, at CostNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse5false0ups_RealizedSecuritiesGrossGainsupsfalsecreditdurationRealized Securities Gross Gainsfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse2400000024falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse1600000016falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse1900000019falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRealized Securities Gross GainsNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse6false0ups_PerpetualPreferredSecuritiesAndAuctionRateSecuritiesAtFairValueupsfalsedebitinstantPerpetual Preferred Securities, and Auction Rate Securities at Fair Valuefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5truefalsefalse2500000025falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryPerpetual Preferred Securities, and Auction Rate Securities at Fair ValueNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse7false0ups_AuctionRateSecuritiesAtFairValueupsfalsedebitinstantAuction rate securities, at Fair Valuefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00<
NonNumbericText />falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse107000000107falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAuction rate securities, at
Fair ValueNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse8false0ups_RealizedSecuritiesGrossLossesupsfalsedebitdurationRealized Securities Gross Lossesfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse1800000018falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse1200000012falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse1000000010falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse<
/Cell>7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse<
/Cells>Monetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryRealized Securities Gross LossesNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse9false0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfInvestmentsus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse2100000021falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse1700000017falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse2300000023falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse2100000021falsefalsefalsetruefalse5truefalsefalse1700000017falsefalsefalsetruefalse6truefalsefalse2300000023falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the amount by which the carrying amount exceeds the fair value of the investment. The amount is charged to income if the decline in fair value is deemed to be other than temporary.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 115
-Paragraph 16
falsefalse10false0ups_AuctionRateSecuritiesAtParValueupsfalsedebitinstantPar value of auction rate securities successfully auctioned during the period.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1true
falsefalse4400000044falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefal
sefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryPar value of auction rate securities successfully auctioned during the period.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse11false0ups_AccumulatedOtherComprehensiveIncomeLossAuctionRateSecuritiesAdjustmentNetOfTaxupsfalsecreditinstantAccumulated appreciation or loss, net of tax, in value of unsold auction rate securities at the end of an accounting period.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse40000004falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAccumulated appreciation or loss, net of tax, in value of unsold auction rate securities at the end of an accounting period.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse12false0ups_AccumulatedOtherCompr
ehensiveIncomeLossAuctionRateSecuritiesAdjustmentPreTaxupsfalsecreditinstantAccumulated appreciation or loss, pre-tax, in value of unsold auction rate securities at the end of an accounting period.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse60000006falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAccumulated appreciation or loss, pr
e-tax, in value of unsold auction rate securities at the end of an accounting period.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse13false0us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsNoncurrentus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse458000000458falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse533000000533falsetruefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00f
alsefalsefalsetruefalse7truefalsefalse286000000286falsetruefalsetruefalse8truefalsefalse286000000286falsetruefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe noncurrent cash, cash equivalents and investments that is restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits classified as long-term; that is not expected to be released from such existing restrictions within one year of the balance sheet date or operating cycle, whichever is longer. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet.
Includes noncurrent cash equivalents and investments that are similarly restricted as to withdrawal, usage or disposal.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse812CASH AND INVESTMENTS - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue
