2.2.0.25truefalse40501 - Disclosure - Fair Value (Narrative) (Details)truefalseIn Millions, unless otherwise specifiedfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse3/31/2011 USD ($) $As_Of_3_31_2011http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141391instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse12/31/2010 USD ($) $As_Of_12_31_2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141391instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$2false0ma_PercentageOfFairValueOfInvestmentsUsingDiscountedCashFlowPricingModelmafalsenainstantPercentage of fair value of investments using Discounted Cash Flow pricing modelfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truetruefalse0.100.10falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truetruefalse0.100.10falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepurePercentage of fair value of investments using Discounted Cash Flow pricing modelNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse3false0us-gaap_LongTermDebtus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse2100000021falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse2000000020falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryIncluding current and noncurrent portions, aggregate carrying amount of long-term borrowings as of the balance sheet date. May include notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, which had initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer, and after deducting unamortized discount or premiums, if any.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 7 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 9 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 20, 22 -Article 5 falsefalse4false0us-gaap_LitigationReserveus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse156000000156falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse302000000302falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAggregate carrying amount of reserve for known or estimated probable loss from litigation, which may include attorneys' fees and other litigation costs.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse5false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.mastercard.com/taxonomy/role/disclosurefairvaluenarrativedetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxis} : Portion at Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] 3/31/2011 USD ($) $As_Of_3_31_2011_us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxis_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141391instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalsePortion at Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMemberus-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxis} : Portion at Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member] 12/31/2010 USD ($) $As_Of_12_31_2010_us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxis_us-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141391instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalsePortion at Fair Value, Fair Value Disclosure [Member]us-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_PortionAtFairValueFairValueDisclosureMemberus-gaap_FairValueByBalanceSheetGroupingDisclosureItemAmountsAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse6false0us-gaap_LongTermDebtus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse2100000021falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse2000000020falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryIncluding current and noncurrent portions, aggregate carrying amount of long-term borrowings as of the balance sheet date. May include notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, which had initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer, and after deducting unamortized discount or premiums, if any.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 7 Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 03 -Paragraph 16 -Article 9 Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher SEC -Name Regulation S-X (SX) -Number 210 -Section 02 -Paragraph 20, 22 -Article 5 falsefalse7false0us-gaap_LitigationReserveus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truefalsefalse157000000157falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse307000000307falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAggregate carrying amount of reserve for known or estimated probable loss from litigation, which may include attorneys' fees and other litigation costs.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse8false0ma_OtherLiabilitiesFairValueDisclosuremafalsecreditinstantThis element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse5500000055falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse4500000045falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThis element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This element represents the fair value of liabilities categorized as other which are not in and of themselves material enough to require separate disclosure.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse27Fair Value (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnowntruetrue