2.2.0.25truefalse41201 - Disclosure - Pension and Postretirement Plans (Narrative) (Details)truefalseIn Millionsfalse1falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis} : Qualified Plan [Member]
1/1/2011 - 3/31/2011
USD ($)
$Duration_1_1_2011_To_3_31_2011_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis_ma_QualifiedPlanMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141391duration2011-01-01T00:00:002011-03-31T00:00:00falsefalseQualified Plan [Member]us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldima_QualifiedPlanMemberus-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis} : Qualified Plan [Member]
1/1/2010 - 3/31/2010
USD ($)
$Duration_1_1_2010_To_3_31_2010_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis_ma_QualifiedPlanMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141391duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-03-31T00:00:00falsefalseQualified Plan [Member]us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldima_QualifiedPlanMemberus-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$1false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.mastercard.com/taxonomy/role/disclosurepensionandpostretirementplansnarrativedetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse1falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis} : Qualified Plan [Member]
1/1/2011 - 3/31/2011
USD ($)
$Duration_1_1_2011_To_3_31_2011_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis_ma_QualifiedPlanMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141391duration2011-01-01T00:00:002011-03-31T00:00:00falsefalseQualified Plan [Member]us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldima_QualifiedPlanMemberus-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis} : Qualified Plan [Member]
1/1/2010 - 3/31/2010
USD ($)
$Duration_1_1_2010_To_3_31_2010_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis_ma_QualifiedPlanMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141391duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-03-31T00:00:00falsefalseQualified Plan [Member]us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldima_QualifiedPlanMemberus-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse2false0ma_DefinedBenefitPlanVoluntaryContributionsByEmployermafalsecreditdurationThe amount of cash or cash equivalents voluntarily contributed by the entity to fund its qualified defined benefit plans.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse30000003falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse50000005falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe amount of cash or cash equivalents voluntarily contributed by the entity to fund its qualified defined benefit plans.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse3false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.mastercard.com/taxonomy/role/disclosurepensionandpostretirementplansnarrativedetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis} : Postretirement Plans [Member]
1/1/2011 - 3/31/2011
USD ($)
$Duration_1_1_2011_To_3_31_2011_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis_us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141391duration2011-01-01T00:00:002011-03-31T00:00:00falsefalsePostretirement Plans [Member]us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMemberus-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$4falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis} : Postretirement Plans [Member]
1/1/2010 - 3/31/2010
USD ($)
$Duration_1_1_2010_To_3_31_2010_us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxis_us-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141391duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-03-31T00:00:00falsefalsePostretirement Plans [Member]us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldius-gaap_OtherPostretirementBenefitPlansDefinedBenefitMemberus-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlansDisclosuresDefinedBenefitPlansAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse4false0us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanNetPeriodicBenefitCostus-gaaptruedebitdurationNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse10000001falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse10000001falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe total amount of net periodic benefit cost for defined benefit plans for the period. Periodic benefit costs include the following components: service cost, interest cost, expected return on plan assets, gain or loss, prior service cost or credit, transition asset or obligation, and gain or loss due to settlements or curtailments).Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 132R
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph h
falsefalse24Pension and Postretirement Plans (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue