2.2.0.25truefalse41901 - Disclosure - Settlement and Other Risk Management (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$2false0us-gaap_GuaranteeObligationsMaximumExposureus-gaaptruecreditinstantNo definition available.falsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalse1truefalsefalse347000000347falsetruefalsefalsefalse2truefalsefalse361000000361falsetruefalsefalsefalseMonetaryxbrli:monetaryItemTypemonetaryMaximum potential amount of future payments (undiscounted) the guarantor could be required to make under the guarantee or each group of similar guarantees before reduction for potential recoveries under recourse or collateralization provisions.Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)
-Number 45
-Paragraph 13
-Subparagraph b
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Emerging Issues Task Force (EITF)
-Number 99-20
-Paragraph 11
Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)
-Number 45
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph b, d
Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name FASB Interpretation (FIN)
-Number 45
-Paragraph 5
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3/31/2011
USD ($)
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12/31/2010
USD ($)
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3/31/2011
As_Of_3_31_2011_ma_RegionReportingInformationByRegionAxis_ma_UnitedStatesMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141391instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseUnited States [Member]ma_RegionReportingInformationByRegionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldima_UnitedStatesMemberma_RegionReportingInformationByRegionAxisexplicitMemberUnit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli06falsefalsetruefalse{ma_RegionReportingInformationByRegionAxis} : United States [Member]
12/31/2010
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3/31/2011
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12/31/2010
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3/31/2011
As_Of_3_31_2011_ma_RegionReportingInformationByRegionAxis_ma_FranceMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141391instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseFrance [Member]ma_RegionReportingInformationByRegionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldima_FranceMemberma_RegionReportingInformationByRegionAxisexplicitMemberUnit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse12false0ma_UncollateralizedSettlementExposurePercentmafalsenainstantUncollateralized Settlement Exposure Percentfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truetruefalse0.100.10falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureUncollateralized Settlement Exposure PercentNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse13false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.mastercard.com/taxonomy/role/disclosuresettlementandotherriskmanagementnarrativedetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse10falsefalsetruefalse{ma_RegionReportingInformationByRegionAxis} : Country Other than United States [Member]
{ma_RangeAxis} : Upper Limit [Member]
3/31/2011
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{ma_RangeAxis} : Upper Limit [Member]
12/31/2010
As_Of_12_31_2010_ma_RangeAxis_ma_UpperLimitMember_ma_RegionReportingInformationByRegionAxis_ma_OtherRegionsMemberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141391instant2010-12-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseCountry Other than United States [Member]ma_RegionReportingInformationByRegionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldima_OtherRegionsMemberma_RegionReportingInformationByRegionAxisexplicitMemberfalsefalseUpper Limit [Member]ma_RangeAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldima_UpperLimitMemberma_RangeAxisexplicitMemberUnit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli0OthernaNo definition available.No authoritative reference available.falsefalse14false0ma_UncollateralizedSettlementExposurePercentmafalsenainstantUncollateralized Settlement Exposure Percentfalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalseverboselabel1truetruefalse0.100.10falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2truetruefalse0.100.10falsefalsefalsefalsefalseOtherus-types:percentItemTypepureUncollateralized Settlement Exposure PercentNo authoritative reference available.falsefalse15false0natruenanaNo definition available.falsetruefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsefalsehttp://www.mastercard.com/taxonomy/role/disclosuresettlementandotherriskmanagementnarrativedetails1falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse2falsefalsefalse00falsefalsefalsefalsefalse12falsefalsetruefalse{ma_RegionReportingInformationByRegionAxis} : Five Non-Compliant Members [Member]
3/31/2011
As_Of_3_31_2011_ma_RegionReportingInformationByRegionAxis_ma_NonCompliantRegions5Memberhttp://www.sec.gov/CIK0001141391instant2011-03-31T00:00:000001-01-01T00:00:00falsefalseFive Non-Compliant Members [Member]ma_RegionReportingInformationByRegionAxisxbrldihttp://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldima_NonCompliantRegions5Memberma_RegionReportingInformationByRegionAxisexplicitMemberUnit13Standardhttp://www.xbrl.org/2003/instancepurexbrli013falsefalsetruefalse{ma_RegionReportingInformationByRegionAxis} : Five Non-Compliant Members [Member]
12/31/2010
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