Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

CASH AND INVESTMENTS - Additional Information (Detail)

v2.4.1.9
CASH AND INVESTMENTS - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]      
Trading Securities $ 430,000,000us-gaap_TradingSecurities $ 0us-gaap_TradingSecurities  
Gross realized gains on sales of marketable securities 1,000,000ups_MarketableSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains 11,000,000ups_MarketableSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains 15,000,000ups_MarketableSecuritiesGrossRealizedGains
Document Fiscal Year Focus 2014    
Gross realized losses on sales of marketable securities 0ups_MarketableSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses 6,000,000ups_MarketableSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses 6,000,000ups_MarketableSecuritiesGrossRealizedLosses
Impairment charge 0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfInvestments 0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfInvestments 0us-gaap_ImpairmentOfInvestments
Investments and Restricted Cash 489,000,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsNoncurrent 444,000,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsNoncurrent  
Weighted average discount rate 7.81%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate 8.65%us-gaap_FairValueInputsDiscountRate  
Variable Life Insurance Policy [Member]      
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]      
Investments and Restricted Cash 19,000,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= ups_VariableLifeInsurancePolicyMember
   
Self Insurance Program [Member]      
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]      
Investments and Restricted Cash 442,000,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= ups_SelfInsuranceProgramMember
425,000,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= ups_SelfInsuranceProgramMember
 
cash held in escrow [Member]      
Gain (Loss) on Investments [Line Items]      
Investments and Restricted Cash $ 28,000,000us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= ups_CashheldinescrowMember
$ 0us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndInvestmentsNoncurrent
/ us-gaap_RestrictedCashAndCashEquivalentsCashAndCashEquivalentsAxis
= ups_CashheldinescrowMember