Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS, GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Summary of Intangible Assets (Detail)

v2.4.1.9
BUSINESS ACQUISITIONS, GOODWILL AND INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Summary of Intangible Assets (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]    
Gross Carrying Amount $ 3,129us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross $ 2,912us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
Accumulated Amortization (2,282)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization (2,137)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
Net Carrying Value 847us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill 775us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
Weighted- Average Amortization Period (in years) 5 years 11 months  
Capitalized software    
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]    
Gross Carrying Amount 2,641us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_ComputerSoftwareIntangibleAssetMember
2,420us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_ComputerSoftwareIntangibleAssetMember
Accumulated Amortization (1,997)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_ComputerSoftwareIntangibleAssetMember
(1,897)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_ComputerSoftwareIntangibleAssetMember
Net Carrying Value 644us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_ComputerSoftwareIntangibleAssetMember
523us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_ComputerSoftwareIntangibleAssetMember
Weighted- Average Amortization Period (in years) 5 years  
Customer lists    
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]    
Gross Carrying Amount 123us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerListsMember
118us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerListsMember
Accumulated Amortization (66)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerListsMember
(62)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerListsMember
Net Carrying Value 57us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerListsMember
56us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_CustomerListsMember
Weighted- Average Amortization Period (in years) 11 years 8 months  
Trademarks, patents, and other    
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]    
Gross Carrying Amount 31us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= ups_TrademarksPatentsandOtherMember
37us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= ups_TrademarksPatentsandOtherMember
Accumulated Amortization (9)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= ups_TrademarksPatentsandOtherMember
(11)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= ups_TrademarksPatentsandOtherMember
Net Carrying Value 22us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= ups_TrademarksPatentsandOtherMember
26us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= ups_TrademarksPatentsandOtherMember
Weighted- Average Amortization Period (in years) 12 years 7 months  
Franchise rights    
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]    
Gross Carrying Amount 117us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_FranchiseRightsMember
117us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_FranchiseRightsMember
Accumulated Amortization (77)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_FranchiseRightsMember
(70)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_FranchiseRightsMember
Net Carrying Value 40us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_FranchiseRightsMember
47us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_FranchiseRightsMember
Weighted- Average Amortization Period (in years) 20 years  
Licenses    
Intangible Assets by Major Class [Line Items]    
Gross Carrying Amount 217us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_LicensingAgreementsMember
220us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsGross
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_LicensingAgreementsMember
Accumulated Amortization (133)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_LicensingAgreementsMember
(97)us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsAccumulatedAmortization
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_LicensingAgreementsMember
Net Carrying Value $ 84us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_LicensingAgreementsMember
$ 123us-gaap_IntangibleAssetsNetExcludingGoodwill
/ us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis
= us-gaap_LicensingAgreementsMember
Weighted- Average Amortization Period (in years) 5 years 1 month 6 days