United Parcel Service, Inc. Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Cover
- Document and Entity Information
Financial Statements
Notes to Financial Statements
Notes Tables
Notes Details

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION - Additional Information (Detail)

v2.3.0.15

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended					9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Mar. 01, 2011
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Percentage of target restricted performance units award that will be divided into three substantially equal tranches in the three-year award cycle from 2011 to 2013			90.00%
Remaining target award based upon our achievement of adjusted earnings per share for the year ending 2013 compared to a target established at the beginning of the award cycle			10.00%
Closing New York Stock Exchange price								$ 72.35
Vesting (exercisable) period of awards		5 years
Percentage of the award vesting at each anniversary date of the grant		20.00%
Options expiration after the date of grant (in years)		10 years
Stock options granted		0.2			0.2
Restricted performance unit ("RPU") granted		1.6			1.8
Grant price of stock options and RPU		$ 74.25			$ 67.18
Fair value of Stock options granted		$ 15.92			$ 14.83
Compensation expense for share-based awards recognized in net income, pre-tax	$ 130			$ 111		$ 402	$ 349
Minimum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Percentage of achievement used to determine RPUs earned of the target RPUs for each tranche			100.00%
Maximum
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Percentage of achievement used to determine RPUs earned of the target RPUs for each tranche			100.00%

- Definition

Closing stock price

+ Details

Name:	ups_ClosingStockPrice
Namespace Prefix:	ups
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage Of Target Restricted Performance Units Earned

+ Details

Name:	ups_PercentageOfTargetRestrictedPerformanceUnitsEarned
Namespace Prefix:	ups
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Options Expire Duration

+ Details

Name:	ups_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsExpireDuration
Namespace Prefix:	ups
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Share Based Compensation Arrangement By Share Based Payment Award Percentage Of Shares Vested

+ Details

Name:	ups_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardPercentageOfSharesVested
Namespace Prefix:	ups
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Share Based Compensation Arrangement by Share Based Payment Award, Restricted Stock Awards, Fair Value Assumptions, Expected Dividend Rate

+ Details

Name:	ups_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardRestrictedStockAwardsFairValueAssumptionsExpectedDividendRate
Namespace Prefix:	ups
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Share Based Compensation Arrangement by Share Based Payment Award, Restricted Stock Awards, Remaining Target Award

+ Details

Name:	ups_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardRestrictedStockAwardsRemainingTargetAward
Namespace Prefix:	ups
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Share-based Compensation, Shares Authorized under Stock Option Plans, Grants in Period, Exercise Price Range

+ Details

Name:	ups_ShareBasedCompensationSharesAuthorizedUnderStockOptionPlansGrantsInPeriodExercisePriceRange
Namespace Prefix:	ups
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate amount of noncash, equity-based employee remuneration. This may include the value of stock or unit options, amortization of restricted stock or units, and adjustment for officers' compensation. As noncash, this element is an add back when calculating net cash generated by operating activities using the indirect method.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 95

-Paragraph 28

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 230

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 28

-Subparagraph (a)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6943989&loc=d3e3602-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensation
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Description of the period of time over which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, which may be expressed in a variety of ways (for example, in years, month and year).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph A240

-Subparagraph a

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (a)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardAwardVestingPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	us-types:durationStringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The number of grants made during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph A240

-Subparagraph b(2)(c)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(2)(iii)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardEquityInstrumentsOtherThanOptionsGrantsInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Net number of share options (or share units) granted during the period.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph A240

-Subparagraph b(1)(d)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)(1)(iv)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:sharesItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The weighted average grant-date fair value of options granted during the reporting period as calculated by applying the disclosed option pricing methodology.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 123R

-Paragraph A240

-Subparagraph c(1)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 718

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (d)(1)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6415400&loc=d3e5070-113901

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShareBasedCompensationArrangementByShareBasedPaymentAwardOptionsGrantsInPeriodWeightedAverageGrantDateFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	num:perShareItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration