Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

COMPANY-SPONSORED EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS - Projected Benefit Obligation, Accumulated Benefit Obligation, and Fair Value of Plan Assets for Pension Plans With an Accumulated Benefit Obligation in Excess of Plan Assets (Detail)

v2.4.1.9
COMPANY-SPONSORED EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS - Projected Benefit Obligation, Accumulated Benefit Obligation, and Fair Value of Plan Assets for Pension Plans With an Accumulated Benefit Obligation in Excess of Plan Assets (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended 12 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]        
Document Fiscal Year Focus   2014    
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefits Paid $ 278us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitsPaid      
Fair value of plan assets   30,129us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets 27,510us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets  
U.S. Pension Benefits        
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]        
Projected benefit obligation, Projected Benefit Obligation Exceeds the Fair Value of the Plan Assets   37,521us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPlansWithBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAggregateBenefitObligation
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Accumulated benefit obligation, Projected Benefit Obligation Exceeds the Fair Value of the Plan Assets   34,725ups_DefinedBenefitPlanPensionPlansWithProjectedBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAggregateAccumulatedBenefitObligation
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Fair value of plan assets, Projected Benefit Obligation Exceeds the Fair Value of the Plan Assets   28,828us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPlansWithBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAggregateFairValueOfPlanAssets
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Projected benefit obligation, Accumulated Benefit Obligation Exceeds the Fair Value of Plan Assets   37,521us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPensionPlansWithAccumulatedBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAggregateProjectedBenefitObligation
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Accumulated benefit obligation, Accumulated Benefit Obligation Exceeds the Fair Value of Plan Assets   34,725us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPensionPlansWithAccumulatedBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAggregateAccumulatedBenefitObligation
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Fair value of plan assets, Accumulated Benefit Obligation Exceeds the Fair Value of Plan Assets   28,828us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPensionPlansWithAccumulatedBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAggregateFairValueOfPlanAssets
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Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation   37,521us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligation
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Service cost   1,137us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost
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Interest cost   1,604us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost
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Fair value of plan assets   28,828us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
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U.S. Postretirement Medical Benefits        
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]        
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation   2,883us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligation
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Service cost   62us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost
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Interest cost   152us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost
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International Pension Benefits        
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]        
Projected benefit obligation, Projected Benefit Obligation Exceeds the Fair Value of the Plan Assets   510us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPlansWithBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAggregateBenefitObligation
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Accumulated benefit obligation, Projected Benefit Obligation Exceeds the Fair Value of the Plan Assets   426ups_DefinedBenefitPlanPensionPlansWithProjectedBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAggregateAccumulatedBenefitObligation
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Fair value of plan assets, Projected Benefit Obligation Exceeds the Fair Value of the Plan Assets   261us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPlansWithBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAggregateFairValueOfPlanAssets
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Accumulated benefit obligation, Accumulated Benefit Obligation Exceeds the Fair Value of Plan Assets   398us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPensionPlansWithAccumulatedBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAggregateAccumulatedBenefitObligation
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Fair value of plan assets, Accumulated Benefit Obligation Exceeds the Fair Value of Plan Assets   232us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanPensionPlansWithAccumulatedBenefitObligationsInExcessOfPlanAssetsAggregateFairValueOfPlanAssets
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Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation   1,274us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligation
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Service cost   43us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost
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Interest cost   49us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost
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Fair value of plan assets   1,042us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanFairValueOfPlanAssets
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Benefit Obligations [Member] | U.S. Pension Benefits        
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]        
Defined Benefit Plan, Benefit Obligation   37,521us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitObligation
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Service cost   1,137us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanServiceCost
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Interest cost   1,604us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanInterestCost
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Defined Benefit Plan, Benefits Paid   924us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanBenefitsPaid
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Defined Benefit Plan, Actuarial Gain (Loss)   (6,191)us-gaap_DefinedBenefitPlanActuarialGainLoss
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Benefit Obligations [Member] | U.S. Postretirement Medical Benefits        
Defined Benefit Plan Disclosure [Line Items]        
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