Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

Activity in Deferred Compensation Program (Detail)

v2.4.1.9
Activity in Deferred Compensation Program (Detail) (USD $)
In Millions, unless otherwise specified
3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2015
Mar. 31, 2014
Dec. 31, 2014
Stockholders Equity Note [Roll Forward]      
Balance at beginning of period     (1)us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares
Balance at end of period (1)us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares   (1)us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares
Balance at beginning of period     $ 2,141us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
Balance at end of period 1,829us-gaap_StockholdersEquity   2,141us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
Treasury Stock [Member]      
Stockholders Equity Note [Roll Forward]      
Balance at beginning of period (1)us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
(1)us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
 
Reinvested dividends 0us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesDividendReinvestmentPlan
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
0us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodSharesDividendReinvestmentPlan
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
 
Benefit payments 0us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualSharesIssued
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
0us-gaap_DeferredCompensationArrangementWithIndividualSharesIssued
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
 
Balance at end of period (1)us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
(1)us-gaap_TreasuryStockShares
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
 
Balance at beginning of period (59)us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
(69)us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
 
Reinvested dividends (1)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueDividendReinvestmentPlan
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
(1)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueDividendReinvestmentPlan
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
 
Benefit payments 11ups_DeferredCompensationPayment
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
12ups_DeferredCompensationPayment
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
 
Balance at end of period (49)us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
(58)us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_TreasuryStockMember
 
Deferred Compensation Obligations      
Stockholders Equity Note [Roll Forward]      
Balance at beginning of period 59us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredCompensationShareBasedPaymentsMember
69us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredCompensationShareBasedPaymentsMember
 
Reinvested dividends (1)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueDividendReinvestmentPlan
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredCompensationShareBasedPaymentsMember
(1)us-gaap_StockIssuedDuringPeriodValueDividendReinvestmentPlan
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredCompensationShareBasedPaymentsMember
 
Benefit payments (11)ups_DeferredCompensationPayment
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredCompensationShareBasedPaymentsMember
(12)ups_DeferredCompensationPayment
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredCompensationShareBasedPaymentsMember
 
Balance at end of period $ 49us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredCompensationShareBasedPaymentsMember
$ 58us-gaap_StockholdersEquity
/ us-gaap_StatementEquityComponentsAxis
= us-gaap_DeferredCompensationShareBasedPaymentsMember