2.2.0.25truefalse41602 - Disclosure - Obligations Under Litigation Settlements (Change Total Liabilities for Litigation Settlements) (Details)truefalseIn Millionsfalse1falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2011 - 3/31/2011
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$Duration_1_1_2011_To_3_31_2011http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141391duration2011-01-01T00:00:002011-03-31T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit15Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0USDUSD$2falsefalseUSDfalsefalse1/1/2010 - 3/31/2010
USD ($)
USD ($) / shares
$Duration_1_1_2010_To_3_31_2010http://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141391duration2010-01-01T00:00:002010-03-31T00:00:00Unit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170Unit15Dividehttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso4217http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0Unit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0Unit1Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancesharesxbrli0USDUSD$2false0us-gaap_LitigationReserveus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruefalsefalseperiodstartlabel1truefalsefalse302000000302falsetruefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAggregate carrying amount of reserve for known or estimated probable loss from litigation, which may include attorneys' fees and other litigation costs.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse3false0ma_AccretionOfInterestOnLitigationSettlementsmafalsedebitdurationInterest cost associated with litigation settlements due to recognition of initial liability at net present value.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse40000004falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse1100000011falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryInterest cost associated with litigation settlements due to recognition of initial liability at net present value.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse4false0us-gaap_LitigationReserveus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsetruefalseperiodendlabel1truefalsefalse156000000156falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryAggregate carrying amount of reserve for known or estimated probable loss from litigation, which may include attorneys' fees and other litigation costs.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse5false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.mastercard.com/taxonomy/role/disclosureobligationsunderlitigationsettlementschangetotalliabilitiesforlitigationsettlementsdetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse3falsefalseUSDtruefalse{us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis} : American Express Settlement [Member]
1/1/2011 - 3/31/2011
USD ($)
$Duration_1_1_2011_To_3_31_2011_us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis_ma_AmericanExpressSettlementMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141391duration2011-01-01T00:00:002011-03-31T00:00:00falsefalseAmerican Express Settlement [Member]us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldima_AmericanExpressSettlementMemberus-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxisexplicitMemberUnit12Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217USDiso42170USDUSD$OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse6false0ma_AccretionOfInterestOnLitigationSettlementsmafalsedebitdurationInterest cost associated with litigation settlements due to recognition of initial liability at net present value.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse40000004falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryInterest cost associated with litigation settlements due to recognition of initial liability at net present value.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse7false0ma_LitigationSettlementNetmafalsecreditdurationThe net gain recorded on litigation settlement - the net amount to be received by, or to be remitted to the entity in...falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseterselabel1truefalsefalse-150000000-150falsetruefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryThe net gain recorded on litigation settlement - the net amount to be received by, or to be remitted to the entity in settlement of litigation.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse26Obligations Under Litigation Settlements (Change Total Liabilities for Litigation Settlements) (Details) (USD $)MillionsUnKnownUnKnownUnKnownfalsetrue