Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

SHAREOWNERS' EQUITY - Activity in Deferred Compensation Program (Detail)

v2.4.1.9
SHAREOWNERS' EQUITY - Activity in Deferred Compensation Program (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, except Share data, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Stockholders Equity Note [Line Items]      
Document Fiscal Year Focus 2014    
Benefit Obligations:      
Balance at beginning of year $ 6,474us-gaap_StockholdersEquity    
Balance at end of period 2,141us-gaap_StockholdersEquity    
Balance at beginning of year, Treasury Stock (1,000,000)us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares    
Balance at end of year, Treasury Stock (1,000,000)us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares    
Treasury Stock      
Benefit Obligations:      
Balance at beginning of year (69)us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
(78)us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
(88)us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
Reinvested dividends (2)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueDividendReinvestmentPlan
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
(4)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueDividendReinvestmentPlan
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
(3)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueDividendReinvestmentPlan
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
Options exercise deferrals 0us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
0us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
0us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
Benefit payments 12ups_DeferredCompensationPayment
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
13ups_DeferredCompensationPayment
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
13ups_DeferredCompensationPayment
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
Balance at end of period (59)us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
(69)us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
(78)us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
Balance at beginning of year, Treasury Stock (1,000,000)us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
(1,000,000)us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
(2,000,000)us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
Reinvested dividends, Treasury Stock 0us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesDividendReinvestmentPlan
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
0us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesDividendReinvestmentPlan
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
 
Options exercise deferrals, Treasury Stock 0us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
0us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
0us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesStockOptionsExercised
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
Benefit payments, Treasury Stock 0us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualSharesIssued
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
0us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualSharesIssued
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
1,000,000us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualSharesIssued
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
Balance at end of year, Treasury Stock (1,000,000)us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
(1,000,000)us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
(1,000,000)us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
Deferred Compensation Obligations      
Benefit Obligations:      
Balance at beginning of year 69us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredCompensationShareBasedPaymentsMember
78us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredCompensationShareBasedPaymentsMember
88us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredCompensationShareBasedPaymentsMember
Reinvested dividends (2)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueDividendReinvestmentPlan
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredCompensationShareBasedPaymentsMember
(4)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueDividendReinvestmentPlan
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredCompensationShareBasedPaymentsMember
(3)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueDividendReinvestmentPlan
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredCompensationShareBasedPaymentsMember
Options exercise deferrals 0us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredCompensationShareBasedPaymentsMember
0us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredCompensationShareBasedPaymentsMember
0us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueStockOptionsExercised
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredCompensationShareBasedPaymentsMember
Benefit payments (12)ups_DeferredCompensationPayment
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredCompensationShareBasedPaymentsMember
(13)ups_DeferredCompensationPayment
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredCompensationShareBasedPaymentsMember
(13)ups_DeferredCompensationPayment
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredCompensationShareBasedPaymentsMember
Balance at end of period $ 59us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredCompensationShareBasedPaymentsMember
$ 69us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredCompensationShareBasedPaymentsMember
$ 78us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredCompensationShareBasedPaymentsMember