2.2.0.25truefalse1079 - Disclosure - Activity in Deferred Compensation Program (Detail)truefalseIn Millionsfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse12/31/2010
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$eol_PE10216---1010-K0013_STD_0_20101231_0http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001090727instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00iso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170iso4217_USD_per_sharesDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instanceshares0sharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instanceshares0PersonStandardhttp://www.ups.com/20101231Personups0CreditFacilityStandardhttp://www.ups.com/20101231CreditFacilityups0pureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/20
03/instancepure0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse12/31/2009
USD ($)
$eol_PE10216---1010-K0013_STD_0_20091231_0http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001090727instant2009-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00iso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170sharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instanceshares0pureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepure0USDUSD$3falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis} : Treasury Stock
1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
$eol_PE10216---1010-K0013_STD_365_20101231_0_411810x412372http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001090727duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseTreasury Stockus-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_TreasuryStockMemberus-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxisexplicitMemberiso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/20
03/iso4217USDiso42170sharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instanceshares0USDUSD$4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis} : Treasury Stock
1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
$eol_PE10216---1010-K0013_STD_365_20091231_0_411810x412372http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001090727duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseTreasury Stockus-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_TreasuryStockMemberus-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxisexplicitMemberiso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/20
03/iso4217USDiso42170sharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instanceshares0USDUSD$5falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis} : Treasury Stock
1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
USD ($)
$eol_PE10216---1010-K0013_STD_366_20081231_0_411810x412372http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001090727duration2008-01-01T00:00:002008-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseTreasury Stockus-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_TreasuryStockMemberus-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxisexplicitMembersharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/in
stanceshares0iso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$6falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis} : Deferred Compensation Obligations [Member]
1/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
$eol_PE10216---1010-K0013_STD_365_20101231_0_411810x401822http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001090727duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseDeferred Compensation Obligationsus-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_DeferredCompensationShareBasedPaymentsMemberus-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxisexplicitMemberiso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$7falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis} : Deferred Compensation Obligations [Member]
1/1/2009 - 12/31/2009
USD ($)
$eol_PE10216---1010-K0013_STD_365_20091231_0_411810x401822http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001090727duration2009-01-01T00:00:002009-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseDeferred Compensation Obligationsus-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_DeferredCompensationShareBasedPaymentsMemberus-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxisexplicitMemberiso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$8falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis} : Deferred Compensation Obligations [Member]
1/1/2008 - 12/31/2008
USD ($)
$eol_PE10216---1010-K0013_STD_366_20081231_0_411810x401822http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001090727duration2008-01-01T00:00:002008-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseDeferred Compensation Obligationsus-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_DeferredCompensationShareBasedPaymentsMemberus-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxisexplicitMemberiso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2true0ups_StockholdersEquityNoteLineItemsupsfalsenadurationStockholders Equity Note [Line Items]falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringStockholders Equity Note [Line Items]falsefalse3false0us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalse
falsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruefalsefalseperiodstartlabel1truefalsefalse20000002falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse20000002falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-2000000-2falsefalsefalsetruefalse4truefalsefalse
-2000000-2falsefalsefalsetruefalse5truefalsefalse-2000000-2falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefals
e00falsefalsefalsetruefalseSharesxbrli:sharesItemTypesharesNumber of common and preferred shares that were previously issued and that were repurchased by the issuing entity and held in treasury on the financial statement date. This stock has no voting rights and receives no dividends.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 29, 30
-Article 5
falsefalse4false0us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesDividendReinvestmentPlanus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00 falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00 falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00 falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseSharesxbrli:sharesItemTypesharesNumber of shares issued during the period from a dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP). A dividend reinvestment plan allows the shareholders to reinvest dividends paid to them by the entity on new issues of stock by the entity.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse5false0us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercisedus-gaaptruenadurationNo definiti
on available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00 falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00 falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00 falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseSharesxbrli:sharesItemTypesharesNumber of shares issued during the period as a result of the exercise of stock options.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presen
tationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 12
-Paragraph 10
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Article 3
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 29, 30
-Article 5
falsefalse6false0us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualSharesIssuedus-gaaptruenadurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00 falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00 falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00 falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseSharesxbrli:sharesItemTypesharesThe number of shares issued pursuant to the terms of the deferred compensation plan as of the balance sheet date.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph 64
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph 65
falsefalse7false0us-gaap_TreasuryStockSharesus-gaaptruenainstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruefalseperiodendlabel1truefalsefalse20000002falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse20000002falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-2000000-2falsefalsefalsetruefalse4truefalsefalse-2000000-2falsefalsefalsetruefalse5truefalsefalse-2000000-2falsefalsefalsetruefalse6falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseSharesxb
rli:sharesItemTypesharesNumber of common and preferred shares that were previously issued and that were repurchased by the issuing entity and held in treasury on the financial statement date. This stock has no voting rights and receives no dividends.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 29, 30
-Article 5
falsefalse8false0us-gaap_StockholdersEquityus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruefalsefalseperiodstartlabel1truefalsefalse79790000007979falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse76300000007630falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalse<
/IsRatio>false-108000000-108falsetruefalsetruefalse4truefalsefalse-121000000-121falsetruefalsetruefalse5truefalsefalse-137000000-137falsetruefalsetruefalse6truefalsefalse108000000108falsetruefalsetruefalse7truefalsefalse121000000121falsetruefalsetruefalse8truefalsefalse137000000137falsetruefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTotal of all Stockholders' Equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors owners, and affiliates of the entity which are attributable to the parent. The amount of the economic entity's stockholders' equity attributable to the parent excludes the amount of stockholders' equity which is allocable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (noncontrolling interest, minority interest). This excludes temporary equity and is sometimes called permanent equity.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph A3
-Appendix A
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 4
-Section E
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 29, 30, 31
-Article 5
falsefalse9false0us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueDividendReinvestmentPlanus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-4000000-4falsefalsefalsetruefalse4truefalsefalse-3000000-3falsefalsefalsetruefalse5true
IsNumeric>falsefalse-5000000-5falsefalsefalsetruefalse6truefalsefalse40000004falsefalsefalsetruefalse7t
ruefalsefalse30000003falsefalsefalsetruefalse8truefalsefalse50000005falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryValue of stock issued during the period from a dividend reinvestment plan (DRIP). A dividend reinvestment plan allows the holder of the stock to reinvest dividends paid to them by the entity on new issues of stock by the entity.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse10false0us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercisedus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-1000000-1falsefalsefalsetruefalse4falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse5falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse6truefalsefalse10000001falsefalsefalsetruefalse7falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalse8falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryValue stock issued during the period as a result of the exercise of stock options.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)
-Number 12
-Paragraph 10
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 04
-Article 3
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 29, 30, 31
-Article 5
falsefalse11false0us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualFairValueOfSharesIssuedus-gaaptruecreditdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse1000000010falsefalsefalsetruefalse4truefalsefalse1600000016falsefalsefalsetruefalse5truefalsefalse2100000021falsefalsefalsetruefalse6truefalsefalse-10000000-10falsefalsefalsetruefalse7truefalsefalse-16000000-16falsefalsefalsetruefalse8truefalsefalse-21000000-21falsefalsefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe total fair value of shares issued during the period under a deferred compensation arrangement.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph 64, 65
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 123R
-Paragraph A240
-Subparagraph b
falsefalse12false0us-gaap_StockholdersEquityus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruefalseperiodendlabel1truefalsefalse79790000007979falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse76300000007630falsetruefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse-103000000-103falsetruefalsetruefalse4truefalsefalse-108000000-108falsetruefalsetruefalse5true
falsefalse-121000000-121falsetruefalsetruefalse6truefalsefalse103000000103falsetruefalsetruefalse7truefalsefalse108000000108falsetruefalsetruefalse8truefalsefalse121000000121falsetruefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryTotal of all Stockholders' Equity (deficit) items, net of receivables from officers, directors owners, and affiliates of the entity which are attributable to the parent. The amount of the economic entity's stockholders' equity attributable to the parent excludes the amount of stockholders' equity which is allocable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent (noncontrolling interest, minority interest). This excludes temporary equity and is sometimes called permanent equity.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher AICPA
-Name Accounting Research Bulletin (ARB)
-Number 51
-Paragraph A3
-Appendix A
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Staff Accounting Bulletin (SAB)
-Number Topic 4
-Section E
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 29, 30, 31
-Article 5
falsefalse811Activity in Deferred Compensation Program (Detail) (USD $)MillionsMillionsUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue