2.2.0.25truefalse1067 - Disclosure - BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS, GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Additional Information (Detail)truefalseIn Millions, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse10/1/2008 - 12/31/2008 USD ($) $eol_PE10216---1010-K0013_STD_92_20081231_0http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001090727duration2008-10-01T00:00:002008-12-31T00:00:00iso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 USD ($) 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/20101231Yearups0USDUSD$3falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009 USD ($) / 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$4falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008 USD ($) 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$2true0ups_GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsDisclosureLineItemsupsfalsenadurationGoodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefa lse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTy pestringGoodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]falsefalse3false0us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByParentus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truetruefalse0.80.8falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureThe consolidating entity's interest in net assets of the subsidiary, expressed as a percentage.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse4false0us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityCashPaidus-gaaptruedebitinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse4000000040falsetruefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAmount of cash paid to acquire the entity.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141R -Paragraph 68 -Subparagraph f(1) Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 141 -Paragraph 51 -Subparagraph d falsefalse5false0ups_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityCashToBePaidupsfalsecreditinstantBusiness Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Cash To Be Paidfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse4000000040falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryBusiness Acquisition, Cost of Acquired Entity, Cash To Be PaidNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse6false0us-gaap_PaymentsToAcquireAdditionalInterestInSubsidiariesus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse2000000020falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe cash outflow associated with the purchase of noncontrolling interest during the period.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 95 -Paragraph 17 -Subparagraph b falsefalse7false0us-gaap_MinorityInterestOwnershipPercentageByNoncontrollingOwnersus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truetruefalse0.20.2falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsetruefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOt herus-types:percentItemTypepureThe equity interest of noncontrolling shareholders, partners or other equity holders in consolidated entity.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse8false0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLossus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse548000000548falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryLoss recognized during the period that results from the write-down of goodwill after comparing the implied fair value of reporting unit goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. Goodwill is assessed at least annually for impairment.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph e(2) Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 43 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 47 -Subparagraph b Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 20 falsefalse9false0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfIntangibleAssetsExcludingGoodwillus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefals e00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse2700000027falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryI temTypemonetaryThe amount of impairment loss recognized in the period resulting from the write-down of the carrying amount of an intangible asset (excluding goodwill) to fair value.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 46 -Subparagraph b falsefalse10false0us-gaap_AmortizationOfIntangibleAssetsus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse224000000224falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse185000000185falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4truefalsefalse202000000202falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe aggregate expense charged against earnings to allocate the cost of intangible assets (nonphysical assets not used in production) in a systematic and rational manner to the periods expected to benefit from such assets. As a noncash expense, this element is added back to net income when calculating cash provided by (used in) operations using the indirect method.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph a(2) falsefalse11false0us-gaap_FutureAmortizationExpenseYearOneus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse238000000238falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbr li:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during the twelve-month period following the balance sheet date.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph a(3) falsefalse12false0us-gaap_FutureAmortizationExpenseYearTwous-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse177000000177falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse< Unit>Monetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during the second twelve-month period following the balance sheet date.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph a(3) falsefalse13false0us-gaap_FutureAmortizationExpenseYearThreeus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse106000000106falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during the third twelve-month period following the balance sheet date.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph a(3) falsefalse14false0us-gaap_FutureAmortizationExpenseYearFourus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse3500000035falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during the fourth twelve-month period following the balance sheet date.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph a(3) falsefalse15false0us-gaap_FutureAmortizationExpenseYearFiveus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse1200000012falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of amortization expense expected to be recognized during the fifth twelve-month period following the balance sheet date.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph a(3) falsefalse16false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.ups.com/taxonomy/role/disclosurebusinessacquisitionsgoodwillandintangibleassetsadditionalinformation1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse5falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxis} : Supply Chain & Freight 1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010 USD ($) $eol_PE10216---1010-K0013_STD_365_20101231_0_411808x420130http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001090727duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseSupply Chain & Freightus-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiups_SupplyChainAndFreightMemberus-gaap_StatementBusinessSegmentsAxisexplicitMemberiso4217_USDStandardhttp:/ /www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse17true0ups_GoodwillAndIntangibleAssetsDisclosureLineItemsupsfalsenadurationGoodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringGoodwill and Intangible Assets Disclosure [Line Items]falsefalse18false 0us-gaap_GoodwillImpairmentLossus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse622000000622falsetruefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryLoss recognized during the period that results from the write-down of goodwill after comparing the implied fair val ue of reporting unit goodwill with the carrying amount of that goodwill. Goodwill is assessed at least annually for impairment.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 45 -Subparagraph e(2) Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 43 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 47 -Subparagraph b Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 142 -Paragraph 20 falsefalse417BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS, GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue