| UPS's Participation in Multiemployer Plans (Detail) (Multiemployer Plans, Pension, USD $)In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 | 12 Months Ended | 
      
        | Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2009 | 
      
        | Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] |  |  |  | 
      
        | UPS Contribution | $ 1,243 | $ 1,186 | $ 1,125 | 
      
        | Alaska Teamster-Employer Pension Plan |  |  |  | 
      
        | Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] |  |  |  | 
      
        | EIN / Pension Plan Number | 92-6003463-024 |  |  | 
      
        | Pension Protection Act Zone status | Red | Red |  | 
      
        | FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented | Yes/Implemented |  |  | 
      
        | UPS Contribution | 4 | 3 | 3 | 
      
        | Surcharge Imposed | No |  |  | 
      
        | Automotive Industries Pension Plan |  |  |  | 
      
        | Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] |  |  |  | 
      
        | EIN / Pension Plan Number | 94-1133245-001 |  |  | 
      
        | Pension Protection Act Zone status | Red | Red |  | 
      
        | FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented | Yes/Implemented |  |  | 
      
        | UPS Contribution | 4 | 4 | 4 | 
      
        | Surcharge Imposed | No |  |  | 
      
        | Central Pennsylvania Teamsters Defined Benefit Plan |  |  |  | 
      
        | Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] |  |  |  | 
      
        | EIN / Pension Plan Number | 23-6262789-001 |  |  | 
      
        | Pension Protection Act Zone status | Green | Yellow |  | 
      
        | FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented | No |  |  | 
      
        | UPS Contribution | 27 | 26 | 25 | 
      
        | Surcharge Imposed | No |  |  | 
      
        | Employer-Teamsters Local Nos. 175 & 505 Pension Trust Fund |  |  |  | 
      
        | Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] |  |  |  | 
      
        | EIN / Pension Plan Number | 55-6021850-001 |  |  | 
      
        | Pension Protection Act Zone status | Green | Green |  | 
      
        | FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented | No |  |  | 
      
        | UPS Contribution | 8 | 8 | 8 | 
      
        | Surcharge Imposed | No |  |  | 
      
        | Hagerstown Motor Carriers and Teamsters Pension Fund |  |  |  | 
      
        | Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] |  |  |  | 
      
        | EIN / Pension Plan Number | 52-6045424-001 |  |  | 
      
        | Pension Protection Act Zone status | Red | Red |  | 
      
        | FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented | Yes/Implemented |  |  | 
      
        | UPS Contribution | 5 | 4 | 4 | 
      
        | Surcharge Imposed | No |  |  | 
      
        | I.A.M. National Pension Fund National Pension Plan |  |  |  | 
      
        | Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] |  |  |  | 
      
        | EIN / Pension Plan Number | 51-6031295-002 |  |  | 
      
        | Pension Protection Act Zone status | Green | Green |  | 
      
        | FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented | No |  |  | 
      
        | UPS Contribution | 25 | 24 | 22 | 
      
        | Surcharge Imposed | No |  |  | 
      
        | International Brotherhood of Teamsters Union Local No. 710 Pension Fund |  |  |  | 
      
        | Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] |  |  |  | 
      
        | EIN / Pension Plan Number | 36-2377656-001 |  |  | 
      
        | Pension Protection Act Zone status | Yellow | Yellow |  | 
      
        | FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented | Yes/Implemented |  |  | 
      
        | UPS Contribution | 74 | 70 | 66 | 
      
        | Surcharge Imposed | No |  |  | 
      
        | Local 705, International Brotherhood of Teamsters Pension Plan |  |  |  | 
      
        | Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] |  |  |  | 
      
        | EIN / Pension Plan Number | 36-6492502-001 |  |  | 
      
        | Pension Protection Act Zone status | Yellow | Yellow |  | 
      
        | FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented | Yes/Implemented |  |  | 
      
        | UPS Contribution | 58 | 56 | 52 | 
      
        | Surcharge Imposed | No |  |  | 
      
        | Local 804 I.B.T. & Local 447 I.A.M. - UPS Multi-Employer Retirement Plan |  |  |  | 
      
        | Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] |  |  |  | 
      
        | EIN / Pension Plan Number | 51-6117726-001 |  |  | 
      
        | Pension Protection Act Zone status | Red | Red |  | 
      
        | FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented | Yes/Implemented |  |  | 
      
        | UPS Contribution | 84 | 84 | 83 | 
      
        | Surcharge Imposed | No |  |  | 
      
        | Milwaukee Drivers Pension Trust Fund |  |  |  | 
      
        | Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] |  |  |  | 
      
        | EIN / Pension Plan Number | 39-6045229-001 |  |  | 
      
        | Pension Protection Act Zone status | Green | Yellow |  | 
      
        | FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented | No |  |  | 
      
        | UPS Contribution | 26 | 24 | 22 | 
      
        | Surcharge Imposed | No |  |  | 
      
        | New England Teamsters & Trucking Industry Pension Fund |  |  |  | 
      
        | Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] |  |  |  | 
      
        | EIN / Pension Plan Number | 04-6372430-001 |  |  | 
      
        | Pension Protection Act Zone status | Red | Red |  | 
      
        | FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented | Yes/Implemented |  |  | 
      
        | UPS Contribution | 124 | 112 | 104 | 
      
        | Surcharge Imposed | No |  |  | 
      
        | New York State Teamsters Conference Pension and Retirement Fund |  |  |  | 
      
        | Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] |  |  |  | 
      
        | EIN / Pension Plan Number | 16-6063585-074 |  |  | 
      
        | Pension Protection Act Zone status | Red | Red |  | 
      
        | FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented | Yes/Implemented |  |  | 
      
        | UPS Contribution | 57 | 52 | 50 | 
      
        | Surcharge Imposed | No |  |  | 
      
        | Teamster Pension Fund of Philadelphia and Vicinity |  |  |  | 
      
        | Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] |  |  |  | 
      
        | EIN / Pension Plan Number | 23-1511735-001 |  |  | 
      
        | Pension Protection Act Zone status | Yellow | Orange |  | 
      
        | FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented | Yes/Implemented |  |  | 
      
        | UPS Contribution | 41 | 39 | 37 | 
      
        | Surcharge Imposed | No |  |  | 
      
        | Teamsters Joint Council No. 83 of Virginia Pension Fund |  |  |  | 
      
        | Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] |  |  |  | 
      
        | EIN / Pension Plan Number | 54-6097996-001 |  |  | 
      
        | Pension Protection Act Zone status | Yellow | Red |  | 
      
        | FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented | Yes/Implemented |  |  | 
      
        | UPS Contribution | 41 | 38 | 35 | 
      
        | Surcharge Imposed | No |  |  | 
      
        | Teamsters Local 639 - Employers Pension Trust |  |  |  | 
      
        | Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] |  |  |  | 
      
        | EIN / Pension Plan Number | 53-0237142-001 |  |  | 
      
        | Pension Protection Act Zone status | Green | Yellow |  | 
      
        | FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented | Yes/Implemented |  |  | 
      
        | UPS Contribution | 33 | 31 | 30 | 
      
        | Surcharge Imposed | No |  |  | 
      
        | Teamsters Negotiated Pension Plan |  |  |  | 
      
        | Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] |  |  |  | 
      
        | EIN / Pension Plan Number | 43-6196083-001 |  |  | 
      
        | Pension Protection Act Zone status | Red | Red |  | 
      
        | FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented | Yes/Implemented |  |  | 
      
        | UPS Contribution | 22 | 20 | 19 | 
      
        | Surcharge Imposed | No |  |  | 
      
        | Truck Drivers and Helpers Local Union No. 355 Retirement Pension Plan |  |  |  | 
      
        | Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] |  |  |  | 
      
        | EIN / Pension Plan Number | 52-6043608-001 |  |  | 
      
        | Pension Protection Act Zone status | Yellow | Red |  | 
      
        | FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented | Yes/Implemented |  |  | 
      
        | UPS Contribution | 12 | 12 | 12 | 
      
        | Surcharge Imposed | No |  |  | 
      
        | United Parcel Service, Inc. - Local 177, I.B.T. Multi-Employer Retirement Plan |  |  |  | 
      
        | Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] |  |  |  | 
      
        | EIN / Pension Plan Number | 13-1426500-419 |  |  | 
      
        | Pension Protection Act Zone status | Red | Red |  | 
      
        | FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented | Yes/Implemented |  |  | 
      
        | UPS Contribution | 57 | 59 | 61 | 
      
        | Surcharge Imposed | No |  |  | 
      
        | Western Conference of Teamsters Pension Plan |  |  |  | 
      
        | Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] |  |  |  | 
      
        | EIN / Pension Plan Number | 91-6145047-001 |  |  | 
      
        | Pension Protection Act Zone status | Green | Green |  | 
      
        | FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented | No |  |  | 
      
        | UPS Contribution | 476 | 449 | 427 | 
      
        | Surcharge Imposed | No |  |  | 
      
        | Western Pennsylvania Teamsters and Employers Pension Fund |  |  |  | 
      
        | Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] |  |  |  | 
      
        | EIN / Pension Plan Number | 25-6029946-001 |  |  | 
      
        | Pension Protection Act Zone status | Red | Red |  | 
      
        | FIP/RP Status Pending/ Implemented | Yes/Implemented |  |  | 
      
        | UPS Contribution | 21 | 20 | 19 | 
      
        | Surcharge Imposed | No |  |  | 
      
        | All Other Multiemployer Plans |  |  |  | 
      
        | Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] |  |  |  | 
      
        | UPS Contribution | $ 44 | $ 51 | $ 42 |