2.2.0.25truefalse1057 - Disclosure - Weighted Average Actuarial Assumptions Used to Determine the Benefit Obligations (Detail)truefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis} : U.S. Pension Benefits 12/31/2010 USD ($) $eol_PE10216---1010-K0013_STD_0_20101231_0_402249x412476http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001090727instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseU.S. Pension Benefitsus-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMemberus-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisexplicitMemberiso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170pureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepure0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis} : U.S. Pension Benefits 12/31/2009 USD ($) $eol_PE10216---1010-K0013_STD_0_20091231_0_402249x412476http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001090727instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseU.S. Pension Benefitsus-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMemberus-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisexplicitMemberiso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170pureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepure0USDUSD$1false0natruenanaNo definition available.falset ruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.ups.com/taxonomy/role/disclosureweightedaverageactuarialassumptionsusedtodeterminethebenefitobligations1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis} : U.S. Pension Benefits 12/31/2010 USD ($) $eol_PE10216---1010-K0013_STD_0_20101231_0_402249x412476http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001090727instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseU.S. Pension Benefitsus-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMemberus-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisexplicitMemberiso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170pureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepure0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis} : U.S. Pension Benefits 12/31/2009 USD ($) $eol_PE10216---1010-K0013_STD_0_20091231_0_402249x412476http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001090727instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseU.S. Pension Benefitsus-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_UnitedStatesPensionPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMemberus-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisexplicitMemberiso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170pureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepure0USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse2true0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanDisclosureLineItemsus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringLine items represent financial concepts included i n a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.falsefalse3false0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationDiscountRateus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truetruefalse0.05980.0598falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truetruefalse0.06580.0658falsef alsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureThe interest rate used to adjust for the time value of money for the plan.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph j falsefalse4false0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationRateOfCompensationIncreaseus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truetruefalse0.04500.0450falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truetruefalse0.04500.0450falsefalsefalsefalsefalse< OriginalInstanceReportColumns />Otherus-types:percentItemTypepureExpected rate of compensation increases (for pay-related plans).Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph j falsefalse5false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.ups.com/taxonomy/role/disclosureweightedaverageactuarialassumptionsusedtodeterminethebenefitobligations1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis} : U.S. Postretirement Medical Benefits 12/31/2010 USD ($) $eol_PE10216---1010-K0013_STD_0_20101231_0_402249x412477http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001090727instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseU.S. Postretirement Medical Benefitsus-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_UnitedStatesPostretirementBenefitPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMemberus-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisexplicitMemberiso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170pureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepure0USDUSD$4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansD isclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis} : U.S. Postretirement Medical Benefits 12/31/2009 USD ($) $eol_PE10216---1010-K0013_STD_0_20091231_0_402249x412477http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001090727instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseU.S. Postretirement Medical Benefitsus-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_UnitedStatesPostretirementBenefitPlansOfUSEntityDefinedBenefitMemberus-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisexplicitMemberiso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170pureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepure0USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.fal sefalse6true0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanDisclosureLineItemsus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli: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.falsefalse7false0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationDiscountRateus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truetruefalse0.05770.0577falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truetruefalse0.06430.0643falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureThe interest rate used to adjust for the time value of money for the plan.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph j falsefalse8false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.ups.com/taxonomy/role/disclosureweightedaverageactuarialassumptionsusedtodeterminethebenefitobligations1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis} : International Pension Benefits 12/31/2010 USD ($) $eol_PE10216---1010-K0013_STD_0_20101231_0_402249x404429http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001090727instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseInternational Pension Benefitsus-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMemberus-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisexplicitMemberiso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170pureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepure0USDUSD$6falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis} : Inte rnational Pension Benefits 12/31/2009 USD ($) $eol_PE10216---1010-K0013_STD_0_20091231_0_402249x404429http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001090727instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseInternational Pension Benefitsus-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_ForeignPensionPlansDefinedBenefitMemberus-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisexplicitMemberiso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170pureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepure0USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalseInternational Pension Benefits9true0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanDisclosureLineItemsus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli: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.falsefalse10false0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationDiscountRateus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truetruefalse0.05360.0536falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truetruefalse0.05840.0584falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureThe interest rate used to adjust for the time value of money for the plan.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph j falsefalse11false0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanAssumptionsUsedCalculatingBenefitObligationRateOfCompensationIncreaseus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truetruefalse0.03570.0357falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truetruefalse0.03620.0362falsefalsefalsefalsefalse Otherus-types:percentItemTypepureExpected rate of compensation increases (for pay-related plans).Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 132R -Paragraph 5 -Subparagraph j falsefalse211Weighted Average Actuarial Assumptions Used to Determine the Benefit Obligations (Detail)UnKnownUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue