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
Accounting Policies
- BASIS OF PRESENTATION BASIS OF PRESENTATION (Policies) (Policies)
Notes Tables
Notes Details

Changes in Level 3 Instruments Measured on a Recurring Basis (Detail)

v2.4.0.8

Changes in Level 3 Instruments Measured on a Recurring Basis (Detail) (USD $) In Millions, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	$ 136	$ 190	$ 163	$ 217
Transfers into (out of) Level 3	0	0	0	0
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in earnings (in investment income)	(13)	(13)	(40)	(40)
Included in accumulated other comprehensive income (pre-tax)	0	0	0	0
Purchases	0	0	0	0
Sales	0	0	0	0
Ending Balance	123	177	123	177
Marketable securities
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	0	0	0	0
Transfers into (out of) Level 3	0	0	0	0
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in earnings (in investment income)	0	0	0	0
Included in accumulated other comprehensive income (pre-tax)	0	0	0	0
Purchases	0	0	0	0
Sales	0	0	0	0
Ending Balance	0	0	0	0
Other Long-term Investments
Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Unobservable Input Reconciliation, Calculation [Roll Forward]
Beginning Balance	136	190	163	217
Transfers into (out of) Level 3	0	0	0	0
Net realized and unrealized gains (losses):
Included in earnings (in investment income)	(13)	(13)	(40)	(40)
Included in accumulated other comprehensive income (pre-tax)	0	0	0	0
Purchases	0	0	0	0
Sales	0	0	0	0
Ending Balance	$ 123	$ 177	$ 123	$ 177

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueAssetsAndLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisUnobservableInputReconciliationCalculationRollForward
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) recognized in earnings, arising from assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (level 3).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainLossIncludedInEarnings1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of gain (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income, arising from assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (level 3).

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetGainLossIncludedInOtherComprehensiveIncomeLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Purchases that have taken place during the period in relation to assets measured at fair value and categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetPurchases
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Sales that have taken place during the period in relation to assets measured at fair value and categorized within Level 3 of the fair value hierarchy.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetSales
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents [net] transfers in to and out of assets measured at fair value on a recurring basis using unobservable inputs (Level 3) which have taken place during the period.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 157

-Paragraph 32

-Subparagraph c(3)

-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.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetTransfersNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This element represents an asset measured at fair value using significant unobservable inputs (Level 3) which is required for reconciliation purposes of beginning and ending balances.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 820

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7578670&loc=d3e19207-110258

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 157

-Paragraph 32

-Subparagraph 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.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FairValueMeasurementWithUnobservableInputsReconciliationRecurringBasisAssetValue
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant