Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Changes in Level 3 Instruments Measured on a Recurring Basis (Detail)

v2.4.1.9
Changes in Level 3 Instruments Measured on a Recurring Basis (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]    
Beginning Balance $ 64us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue $ 110us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue
Transfers into (out of) Level 3 0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetTransfersNet 0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetTransfersNet
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses):    
Included in earnings (in investment income) (8)us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainLossIncludedInEarnings1 (11)us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainLossIncludedInEarnings1
Included in accumulated other comprehensive income (pre-tax) 0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainLossIncludedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss 0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainLossIncludedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
Purchases 0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetPurchases 0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetPurchases
Sales 0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetSales 0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetSales
Ending Balance 56us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue 99us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue
Marketable securities    
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]    
Beginning Balance 0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= ups_MarketableSecuritiesMember
0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= ups_MarketableSecuritiesMember
Transfers into (out of) Level 3 0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetTransfersNet
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= ups_MarketableSecuritiesMember
0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetTransfersNet
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= ups_MarketableSecuritiesMember
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses):    
Included in earnings (in investment income) 0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainLossIncludedInEarnings1
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= ups_MarketableSecuritiesMember
0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainLossIncludedInEarnings1
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= ups_MarketableSecuritiesMember
Included in accumulated other comprehensive income (pre-tax) 0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainLossIncludedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= ups_MarketableSecuritiesMember
0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainLossIncludedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= ups_MarketableSecuritiesMember
Purchases 0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetPurchases
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= ups_MarketableSecuritiesMember
0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetPurchases
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= ups_MarketableSecuritiesMember
Sales 0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetSales
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= ups_MarketableSecuritiesMember
0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetSales
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= ups_MarketableSecuritiesMember
Ending Balance 0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= ups_MarketableSecuritiesMember
0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= ups_MarketableSecuritiesMember
Other Long-term Investments    
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]    
Beginning Balance 64us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLongTermInvestmentsMember
110us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLongTermInvestmentsMember
Transfers into (out of) Level 3 0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetTransfersNet
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLongTermInvestmentsMember
0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetTransfersNet
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLongTermInvestmentsMember
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses):    
Included in earnings (in investment income) (8)us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainLossIncludedInEarnings1
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLongTermInvestmentsMember
(11)us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainLossIncludedInEarnings1
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLongTermInvestmentsMember
Included in accumulated other comprehensive income (pre-tax) 0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainLossIncludedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLongTermInvestmentsMember
0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainLossIncludedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLongTermInvestmentsMember
Purchases 0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetPurchases
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLongTermInvestmentsMember
0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetPurchases
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLongTermInvestmentsMember
Sales 0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetSales
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLongTermInvestmentsMember
0us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetSales
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLongTermInvestmentsMember
Ending Balance $ 56us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLongTermInvestmentsMember
$ 99us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue
/ us-gaap_FairValueByAssetClassAxis
= us-gaap_OtherLongTermInvestmentsMember