Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

INCOME TAXES - Summarized Activity Related to Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Detail)

v2.4.1.9
INCOME TAXES - Summarized Activity Related to Unrecognized Tax Benefits (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2013
Dec. 31, 2012
Tax      
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits [Roll Forward]      
Beginning Balance $ 191us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitMember
$ 232us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitMember
$ 252us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitMember
Additions for tax positions of the current year 15us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitMember
15us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitMember
13us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitMember
Additions for tax positions of prior years 51us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitMember
20us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitMember
7us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitMember
Reductions for tax positions of prior years for:      
Changes based on facts and circumstances (74)ups_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromChangesBasedOnFactsAndCircumstances
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitMember
(67)ups_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromChangesBasedOnFactsAndCircumstances
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitMember
(22)ups_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromChangesBasedOnFactsAndCircumstances
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitMember
Settlements during the period (10)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitMember
(8)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitMember
(3)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitMember
Lapses of applicable statute of limitations (1)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitMember
(1)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitMember
(15)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitMember
Ending Balance 172us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitMember
191us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitMember
232us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_IncomeTaxExpenseBenefitMember
Interest      
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits [Roll Forward]      
Beginning Balance 40us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember
53us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember
73us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember
Additions for tax positions of the current year 0us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember
0us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember
0us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember
Additions for tax positions of prior years 13us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember
9us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember
9us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember
Reductions for tax positions of prior years for:      
Changes based on facts and circumstances (8)ups_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromChangesBasedOnFactsAndCircumstances
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember
(23)ups_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromChangesBasedOnFactsAndCircumstances
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember
(18)ups_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromChangesBasedOnFactsAndCircumstances
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember
Settlements during the period (2)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember
1us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember
(7)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember
Lapses of applicable statute of limitations (1)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember
0us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember
(4)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember
Ending Balance 42us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember
40us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember
53us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= us-gaap_InterestExpenseMember
Penalties      
Reconciliation of Unrecognized Tax Benefits [Roll Forward]      
Beginning Balance 4us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_PenaltiesMember
4us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_PenaltiesMember
3us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_PenaltiesMember
Additions for tax positions of the current year 0us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_PenaltiesMember
0us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_PenaltiesMember
0us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromCurrentPeriodTaxPositions
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_PenaltiesMember
Additions for tax positions of prior years 0us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_PenaltiesMember
2us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_PenaltiesMember
1us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsIncreasesResultingFromPriorPeriodTaxPositions
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_PenaltiesMember
Reductions for tax positions of prior years for:      
Changes based on facts and circumstances 0ups_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromChangesBasedOnFactsAndCircumstances
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_PenaltiesMember
(1)ups_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromChangesBasedOnFactsAndCircumstances
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_PenaltiesMember
0ups_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromChangesBasedOnFactsAndCircumstances
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_PenaltiesMember
Settlements during the period 0us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_PenaltiesMember
0us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_PenaltiesMember
0us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsDecreasesResultingFromSettlementsWithTaxingAuthorities
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_PenaltiesMember
Lapses of applicable statute of limitations (1)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_PenaltiesMember
(1)us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_PenaltiesMember
0us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefitsReductionsResultingFromLapseOfApplicableStatuteOfLimitations
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_PenaltiesMember
Ending Balance $ 3us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_PenaltiesMember
$ 4us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_PenaltiesMember
$ 4us-gaap_UnrecognizedTaxBenefits
/ us-gaap_IncomeTaxAuthorityAxis
= ups_PenaltiesMember