2.2.0.25truefalse145 - Disclosure - LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND CONTINGENCIES - Additional Information (Detail)truefalseIn Millions, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse3/31/2011
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$eol_PE10216---1110-Q0006_STD_0_20110331_0http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001090727instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00iso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170pureStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepure0sharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instanceshares0iso4217_USD_per_sharesDividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instanceshares0PersonStandardhttp://www.ups.com/20110331Personups0CreditFacilityStandardhttp://www.ups.com/20110331CreditFacilityups0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse12/31/2010
USD ($)
$eol_PE10216---1110-Q0006_STD_0_20101231_0http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001090727instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00iso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170sharesStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instanceshares0PersonStandardhttp://www.ups.com/20110331Personups0USDUSD$3falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_ReasonablyPossibleSignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsByItemAxis} : Tax Years 2003 And 2004
10/1/2010 - 12/31/2010
USD ($)
$eol_PE10216---1110-Q0006_STD_92_20101231_0_409959x431504http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001090727duration2010-10-01T00:00:002010-12-31T00:00:00falsefalseTax Years 2003 And 2004us-gaap_ReasonablyPossibleSignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsByItemAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldiups_TaxYears2003And2004Memberus-gaap_ReasonablyPossibleSignificantChangeInUnrecognizedTaxBenefitsByItemAxisexplicitMemberiso4217_USDStandardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2true0ups_CommitmentsAndContingenciesDisclosureLineItemsupsfalsenadurationCommitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherxbrli:stringItemTypestringCommitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Line Items]falsefalse3false0us-gaap_ProceedsFromIncomeTaxRefundsus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3truefalsefalse139000000139falsetruefalsetruefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of cash received during the period as refunds for the overpayment of taxes.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 29
falsefalse4false0ups_NumberOfTeamstersupsfalsenainstantNumber of Teamstersfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse250000250000falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherxbrli:decimalItemTypedecimalNumber of TeamstersNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse5false0ups_NumberOfPilotsupsfalsenainstantNumber of Pilotsfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse28002800falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherxbrli:integerItemTypeintegerNumber of PilotsNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse6false0ups_NumberOfGroundMechanicsupsfalsenainstantNumber of Ground Mechanicsfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse33003300falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsetruefalseOtherxbrli:integerItemTypeintegerNumber of Ground MechanicsNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse35LEGAL PROCEEDINGS AND CONTINGENCIES - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue
