Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

SHAREOWNERS' EQUITY - Activity in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Parenthetical) (Detail)

v2.4.1.9
SHAREOWNERS' EQUITY - Activity in Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Parenthetical) (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Foreign currency translation gain (loss)      
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]      
Aggregate adjustment for the period, tax effect $ 147us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
$ (5)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
$ (9)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossForeignCurrencyTranslationAdjustmentTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedTranslationAdjustmentMember
Unrealized gain (loss) on marketable securities, net of tax      
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]      
Current period changes in fair value, tax effect 1us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember
(3)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember
4us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedHoldingGainLossOnSecuritiesArisingDuringPeriodTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember
Reclassification to earnings, tax effect 0us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember
(2)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember
(3)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIForSaleOfSecuritiesTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetUnrealizedInvestmentGainLossMember
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges, net of tax      
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]      
Current period changes in fair value, tax effect 133us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember
1us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember
(25)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeUnrealizedGainLossOnDerivativesArisingDuringPeriodTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember
Reclassification to earnings, tax effect 35us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIOnDerivativesTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember
39us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIOnDerivativesTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember
(24)us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIOnDerivativesTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedNetGainLossFromDesignatedOrQualifyingCashFlowHedgesMember
Unrecognized pension and postretirement benefit costs, net of tax      
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]      
Reclassification to earnings, tax effect 870us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansForNetGainLossTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember
67us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansForNetGainLossTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember
1,876us-gaap_OtherComprehensiveIncomeLossReclassificationAdjustmentFromAOCIPensionAndOtherPostretirementBenefitPlansForNetGainLossTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember
Net actuarial gain (loss) and prior service cost resulting from remeasurements of plan assets and liabilities, tax effect $ (2,714)ups_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetActuarialGainsAndPriorServiceCostArisingDuringPeriodTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember
$ 1,786ups_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetActuarialGainsAndPriorServiceCostArisingDuringPeriodTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember
$ (2,151)ups_OtherComprehensiveIncomeNetActuarialGainsAndPriorServiceCostArisingDuringPeriodTax
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_AccumulatedDefinedBenefitPlansAdjustmentMember