United Parcel Service, Inc. Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

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Accounting Policies
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Notes Details

Changes in Level 3 Instruments Measured on a Recurring Basis (Detail)

v2.4.0.6

Changes in Level 3 Instruments Measured on a Recurring Basis (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			$ 217	$ 405	$ 190	$ 240
Transfers into (out of) Level 3	0	0	0	0
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in earnings (in investment income)	(13)	(12)	(40)	(39)
Included in accumulated other comprehensive income (pre-tax)	0	0	0	0
Purchases	0	0	0	0
Sales	0	0	0	(138)
Ending Balance	177	228	177	228	190	240
Marketable securities
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			0	138	0	0
Transfers into (out of) Level 3	0	0	0	0
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in earnings (in investment income)	0	0	0	0
Included in accumulated other comprehensive income (pre-tax)	0	0	0	0
Purchases	0	0	0	0
Sales	0	0	0	(138)
Ending Balance	0	0	0	0	0	0
Other Long-term Investments
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance			217	267	190	240
Transfers into (out of) Level 3	0	0	0	0
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in earnings (in investment income)	(13)	(12)	(40)	(39)
Included in accumulated other comprehensive income (pre-tax)	0	0	0	0
Purchases	0	0	0	0
Sales	0	0	0	0
Ending Balance	$ 177	$ 228	$ 177	$ 228	$ 190	$ 240

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- Definition

This element represents total gains or losses for the period (realized and unrealized), arising from assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3), which are included in earnings or resulted in a change in net asset value.

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-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 157

-Paragraph 32

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-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

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Purchases that have taken place during the period in relation to assets measured at fair value and categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

+ References

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Sales that have taken place during the period in relation to assets measured at fair value and categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

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This element represents [net] transfers in to and out of assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3) which have taken place during the period.

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-Number 157

-Paragraph 32

-Subparagraph c(3)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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This element represents an asset measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) which is required for reconciliation purposes of beginning and ending balances.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB

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-Number 157

-Paragraph 32

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Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

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