| Multi-Employer Health and Welfare Plans (Detail) (Health and Welfare Fund, USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified | 12 Months Ended | ||
|---|---|---|---|
| Dec. 31, 2011 | Dec. 31, 2010 | Dec. 31, 2009 | |
| Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] | |||
| UPS Contributions | $ 1,103 | $ 1,066 | $ 1,031 | 
| Bay Area Delivery Drivers | |||
| Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] | |||
| UPS Contributions | 27 | 26 | 22 | 
| Central Pennsylvania Teamsters Health & Pension Fund | |||
| Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] | |||
| UPS Contributions | 18 | 17 | 16 | 
| Central States, South East & South West Areas Health and Welfare Fund | |||
| Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] | |||
| UPS Contributions | 452 | 441 | 428 | 
| Delta Health Systems-East Bay Drayage Drivers | |||
| Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] | |||
| UPS Contributions | 17 | 15 | 16 | 
| Employer - Teamster Local Nos. 175 & 505 | |||
| Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] | |||
| UPS Contributions | 8 | 7 | 6 | 
| Joint Council #83 Health & Welfare Fund | |||
| Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] | |||
| UPS Contributions | 25 | 25 | 25 | 
| Local 191 Teamsters Health Fund | |||
| Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] | |||
| UPS Contributions | 9 | 9 | 8 | 
| Local 804 Welfare Trust Fund | |||
| Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] | |||
| UPS Contributions | 6 | 5 | 5 | 
| Milwaukee Drivers Pension Trust Fund - Milwaukee Drivers Health and Welfare Trust Fund | |||
| Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] | |||
| UPS Contributions | 58 | 54 | 51 | 
| Montana Teamster Employers Trust | |||
| Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] | |||
| UPS Contributions | 28 | 27 | 27 | 
| Northern California General Teamsters (DELTA) | |||
| Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] | |||
| UPS Contributions | 6 | 6 | 6 | 
| New York State Teamsters Health & Hospital Fund | |||
| Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] | |||
| UPS Contributions | 73 | 70 | 69 | 
| North Coast Benefit Trust | |||
| Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] | |||
| UPS Contributions | 41 | 40 | 37 | 
| North New England Benefits Trust | |||
| Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] | |||
| UPS Contributions | 7 | 7 | 6 | 
| Northern New England Benefit Trust | |||
| Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] | |||
| UPS Contributions | 32 | 31 | 30 | 
| Teamsters Benefit Trust | |||
| Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] | |||
| UPS Contributions | 27 | 25 | 23 | 
| Teamsters 170 Health & Welfare Fund | |||
| Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] | |||
| UPS Contributions | 12 | 12 | 12 | 
| Teamsters Local 623 Health Fund | |||
| Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] | |||
| UPS Contributions | 29 | 27 | 26 | 
| Teamsters Local 251 Health & Insurance Plan | |||
| Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] | |||
| UPS Contributions | 10 | 10 | 10 | 
| Teamsters Local 404 Health & Insurance Plan | |||
| Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] | |||
| UPS Contributions | 6 | 6 | 5 | 
| Teamsters Union Local 191 | |||
| Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] | |||
| UPS Contributions | 28 | 27 | 27 | 
| Teamsters Union Local 404 | |||
| Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] | |||
| UPS Contributions | 22 | 21 | 20 | 
| Teamsters Local 671 Health Services & Insurance Plan | |||
| Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] | |||
| UPS Contributions | 13 | 12 | 12 | 
| Teamsters Union 25 Health Services & Insurance Plan | |||
| Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] | |||
| UPS Contributions | 34 | 33 | 31 | 
| Truck Drivers and Helpers Local Three Hundred Fifty Five Baltimore Area Health and Welfare Fund | |||
| Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] | |||
| UPS Contributions | 8 | 7 | 7 | 
| Union Local 671 Health Services and Insurance Plan | |||
| Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] | |||
| UPS Contributions | 12 | 12 | 12 | 
| Utah-Idaho Teamsters Security Fund | |||
| Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] | |||
| UPS Contributions | 15 | 15 | 14 | 
| Washington Teamsters Welfare Trust | |||
| Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] | |||
| UPS Contributions | 30 | 27 | 26 | 
| All Other Multiemployer Plans | |||
| Multiemployer Plans [Line Items] | |||
| UPS Contributions | $ 50 | $ 52 | $ 54 |