Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Carrying Value of Outstanding Debt (Detail)

v2.4.1.9
Carrying Value of Outstanding Debt (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Face Amount $ 12,847us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount  
Long-term Debt and Capital Lease Obligations 13,104us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations 10,787us-gaap_LongTermDebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations
Less current maturities (3,163)us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent (923)us-gaap_LongTermDebtCurrent
Long-Term Debt 9,941us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent 9,864us-gaap_LongTermDebtNoncurrent
Commercial Paper    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Face Amount 3,121us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPaperMember 		 
Maturity - Minimum Date Dec. 31, 2015  
Maturity - Maximum Date Dec. 31, 2015  
Total debt 3,121us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPaperMember 		772us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CommercialPaperMember
Senior notes | 5.50% stated rate    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Face Amount 750us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A550SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember 		 
Maturity - Maximum Date Jan. 15, 2018  
Debt instrument, stated interest rate 5.50%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A550SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember 		 
Total debt 803us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A550SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember 		802us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A550SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Senior notes | 5.125% stated rate    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Face Amount 1,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A5125SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember 		 
Maturity - Maximum Date Apr. 15, 2019  
Debt instrument, stated interest rate 5.125%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A5125SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember 		 
Total debt 1,083us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A5125SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember 		1,076us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A5125SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Senior notes | Debentures 8 Point 375 Percent Due 2030 [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Face Amount 276us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_Debentures8Point375PercentDue2030Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember 		 
Total debt 283us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_Debentures8Point375PercentDue2030Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember 		283us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_Debentures8Point375PercentDue2030Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Senior notes | 3.125% stated rate    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Face Amount 1,500us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A3125SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember 		 
Maturity - Maximum Date Jan. 15, 2021  
Debt instrument, stated interest rate 3.125%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A3125SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember 		 
Total debt 1,636us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A3125SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember 		1,617us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A3125SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Senior notes | 6.20% stated rate    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Face Amount 1,500us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A620SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember 		 
Maturity - Maximum Date Jan. 15, 2038  
Debt instrument, stated interest rate 6.20%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A620SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember 		 
Total debt 1,481us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A620SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember 		1,481us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A620SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Senior notes | 4.875% stated rate    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Face Amount 500us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A4875SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember 		 
Maturity - Maximum Date Nov. 15, 2040  
Debt instrument, stated interest rate 4.875%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A4875SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember 		 
Total debt 489us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A4875SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember 		489us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A4875SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Senior notes | A1125SeniorNotes [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Face Amount 375us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A1125SeniornotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember 		 
Maturity - Maximum Date Oct. 01, 2017  
Debt instrument, stated interest rate 1.125%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A1125SeniornotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember 		 
Total debt 372us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A1125SeniornotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember 		370us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A1125SeniornotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Senior notes | 2.45% senior notes [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Face Amount 1,000us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A245SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember 		 
Maturity - Maximum Date Oct. 01, 2022  
Debt instrument, stated interest rate 2.45%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A245SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember 		 
Total debt 997us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A245SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember 		977us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A245SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Senior notes | 3.625% senior notes [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Face Amount 375us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A3625SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember 		 
Maturity - Maximum Date Oct. 01, 2042  
Debt instrument, stated interest rate 3.625%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A3625SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember 		 
Total debt 367us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A3625SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember 		367us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A3625SeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Senior notes | Debentures 8 Point 375 Percent Due 2020 [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Face Amount 424us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_Debentures8Point375PercentDue2020Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember 		 
Total debt 484us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_Debentures8Point375PercentDue2020Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember 		480us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_Debentures8Point375PercentDue2020Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Senior notes | Floating rate senior notes    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Face Amount 463us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_FloatingRateSeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember 		 
Maturity - Minimum Date Jan. 01, 2049  
Maturity - Maximum Date Jan. 01, 2053  
Total debt 459us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_FloatingRateSeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember 		459us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_FloatingRateSeniorNotesMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Debentures [Member] | 8.375% debentures due 2030 [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Maturity - Maximum Date Jan. 01, 2030  
Debt instrument, stated interest rate 8.375%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A8375DebenturesDue2030Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= ups_DebenturesMember 		 
Debentures [Member] | 8.375% debentures due 2020 [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Maturity - Minimum Date Jan. 01, 2020  
Debt instrument, stated interest rate 8.375%us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_A8375DebenturesDue2020Member
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= ups_DebenturesMember 		 
Facility notes and bonds    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Face Amount 320us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= ups_FacilityNotesAndBondsMember 		 
Maturity - Minimum Date Jan. 01, 2015  
Maturity - Maximum Date Jan. 01, 2036  
Total debt 320us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= ups_FacilityNotesAndBondsMember 		320us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= ups_FacilityNotesAndBondsMember
Pound Sterling notes    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Maturity - Minimum Date Jan. 01, 2031  
Maturity - Maximum Date Jan. 01, 2050  
Pound Sterling notes | Pound Sterling Notes 5 Point 5 Percent [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Face Amount 98us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_PoundSterlingNotes5Point5PercentMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= ups_PoundSterlingNotesMember 		 
Total debt 95us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_PoundSterlingNotes5Point5PercentMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= ups_PoundSterlingNotesMember 		99us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_PoundSterlingNotes5Point5PercentMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= ups_PoundSterlingNotesMember
Pound Sterling notes | Pound Sterling Notes 5 Point 13 Percent [Member]    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Face Amount 673us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_PoundSterlingNotes5Point13PercentMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= ups_PoundSterlingNotesMember 		 
Total debt 642us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_PoundSterlingNotes5Point13PercentMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= ups_PoundSterlingNotesMember 		673us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis
= ups_PoundSterlingNotes5Point13PercentMember
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= ups_PoundSterlingNotesMember
Capital Lease Obligations    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Face Amount 460us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsMember 		 
Maturity - Minimum Date Dec. 31, 2015  
Maturity - Maximum Date Jan. 01, 3004  
Total debt 460us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsMember 		505us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= us-gaap_CapitalLeaseObligationsMember
Other debt    
Debt Instrument [Line Items]    
Debt Instrument, Face Amount 12us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFaceAmount
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= ups_OtherDebtMember 		 
Maturity - Minimum Date Jan. 01, 2015  
Maturity - Maximum Date Jan. 01, 2022  
Total debt $ 12us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= ups_OtherDebtMember 		$ 17us-gaap_LongTermDebt
/ us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis
= ups_OtherDebtMember