Allowances for receivables A provision for trade and other receivables due within one year (or the normal operating cycle, whichever is longer) that are expected to be uncollectible. Also included is a provision for receivables that will not be collected due to the issuance of a credit memo or refund. Allowances For Receivables General [Abstract] General Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of capitalized payments for supplies, spare parts (principally aircraft related), fuel and retail goods consumed or sold within one year or the operating cycle, if longer. Spare Parts Supplies And Fuel Less Allowances Spare parts, supplies and fuel, less allowances of $181 and $169 Allowances for spare parts, supplies and fuel The amount of the valuation account as of the balance sheet date which reduces the carrying amount of spare parts, supplies and fuel to their net realizable value. This valuation account takes into consideration such factors as excessive quantities based on fleet usage, obsolescence and shrinkage. Allowances For Spare Parts Supplies And Fuel Prepaid expenses and other Sum of the amounts paid in advance for capitalized costs that will be expensed with the passage of time or the occurrence of a triggering event and will be charged against earnings within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Also included are aggregate carrying amount of current assets, expected to be realized or consumed within one year (or the operating cycle, if longer), not separately presented in the balance sheet due to materiality considerations. Purchased transportation Costs incurred related to the purchase of services (air, road and rail) from third-party transportation providers and independent contractors in direct support of shipping and logistics services. Rentals and landing fees Rental expense for leased assets including aircraft, vehicles, equipment and facilities; as well as fees paid to an airport or other governmental agency for each aircraft landing. Rentals and Landing Fees Interest, net Interest Net The net difference between debt related expenses (net of capitalized interest) associated with nonoperating financing activities of the entity and interest related income associated with nonoperating investing activities of the entity. Retirement Plans [Abstract] Retirement Plans Commitments [Abstract] Commitments Document and Entity Information [Abstract] Document and Entity Information Comprehensive Income (Tables) [Abstract] Comprehensive Income (Tables) Reconciliation of Net Income to Comprehensive Income [Abstract] Reconciliation of Net Income to Comprehensive Income Schedule Of Earnings Per Share Basic And Diluted By Common Class [Abstract] Retirement Plan (Tables) [Abstract] Retirement Plan (Tables) Business Segment Information (Tables) [Abstract] Business Segment Information (Tables) Recognized actuarial losses (gains) and other Defined Benefit Plan Amortization Of Gains Losses And Other The amount of gains or losses recognized in net periodic benefit cost and the amount of the prior service cost or credit recognized in net periodic benefit cost relating to benefit changes attributable to plan participants' prior service pursuant to a plan amendment or a plan initiation. Pension Plans Contributions [Abstract] Pension Plans Contributions General Significant Accounting Policies and Other This element may be used to describe all significant accounting policies of the reporting entity. In addition, this element describes business acquisitions, employees under collective bargaining arrangements, stock-based compensation, new accounting guidance, treasury shares activity that could be applicable, and cash dividend declared per common share by an entity during the period. Supplemental Cash Flow (Tables) [Abstract] Supplemental Cash Flow (Tables) Supplemental Cash Flow Table [Text Block] Schedule disclosing cash receipts or disbursements in the period required to be supplementally disclosed. Supplemental Cash Flow Table Computation Of Earnings Per Share (Tables) [Abstract] Computation Of Earnings Per Share (Tables) Schedule Of Earnings Per Share By Common Class [Text Block] This element may be used to capture the complete disclosure pertaining to an entity's basic and diluted earnings per share. Schedule of basic and diluted earnings per common share Stock Based Compensation Details [Abstract] Stock-Based Compensation Details Commitments (Tables) [Abstract] Commitments (Tables) Schedule of Aircraft Purchase Commitments [Text Block] Describes and quantifies the number and type of key aircraft committed to purchase as of the date of the latest balance sheet, with the year of expected delivery for each of the five succeeding fiscal years and in aggregate. Schedule of Aircraft Purchase Commitments General Details [Abstract] Dividend Details Financing Arrangements (Details) [Abstract] Financing Arrangements (Details) Deferred income taxes and other noncash items Deferred Income Taxes And Other Noncash Items The net amount of deferred income taxes along with other noncash items which are not individually material for disclosure. Proceeds from asset dispositions and other Proceeds From Asset Dispositions And Other The cash inflow from the sale of property, plant and equipment (capital expenditures), software, and other intangible assets, along with net cash outflow (inflow) from other investing activities when there is not a more specific and appropriate element in the taxonomy. Line Of Credit Facility Covenant Terms Leverage Ratio Leverage Ratio condition for borrowing under the credit facility where adjusted debt (long-term debt, including the current portion of such debt, plus six times our last four fiscal quarters' rentals and landing fees) to capital (adjusted debt plus total common stockholders' investment) does not exceed 70%. FedEx Express Segment [Member] FedEx Ground Segment [Member] FedEx Freight Segment [Member] FedEx Services Segment [Member] Other and Eliminations [Member] Schedule of Purchase Commitments [Line Items] Aircraft And Related Equipment Commitments [Member] Other Commitments [Member] Other Commitment Disclosures [Abstract] Other Commitment Disclosures Deposit and Progress Payments Balance of deposits and progress payments on aircraft purchases and other planned aircraft-related transactions. Change in Deposit and Progress Payments Change in the balance of deposits and progress payments on aircraft purchases and other planned aircraft-related transactions since the most recent year-end. Schedule of Future Minimum Operating Lease Payments [Line Items] Schedule of Future Minimum Operating Lease Payments [Table] Schedule of Future Minimum Operating Lease Payments [Axis] Schedule of Future Minimum Operating Lease Payments [Domain] Aircraft and Related Equipment [Member] Facilities and Other [Member] Schedule of Aircraft Commitments [Line Items] Aircraft Purchase Obligation With Delivery Within Fiscal Year 2012 (remainder) The number of aircraft committed to be purchased with a delivery date within the current fiscal year. Aircraft Purchase Obligation With Delivery Due In Second Fiscal Year 2013 The number of aircraft committed to be purchased with a delivery date in the second fiscal year. Aircraft Purchase Obligation With Delivery Due In Third Fiscal Year The number of aircraft committed to be purchased with a delivery date in the third fiscal year. 2014 Aircraft Purchase Obligation With Delivery Due In Fourth Fiscal Year 2015 The number of aircraft committed to be purchased with a delivery date in the fourth fiscal year. Aircraft Purchase Obligation With Delivery Due In Fifth Fiscal Year 2016 The number of aircraft committed to be purchased with a delivery date in the fifth fiscal year. Aircraft Purchase Obligation With Delivery Due After Fifth Fiscal Year Thereafter The number of aircraft committed to be purchased with a delivery date after the fifth fiscal year. Aircraft Purchase Obligation Total The total number of aircraft committed to be purchased. Spare parts, supplies, fuel, prepaid expenses and other, less allowances Spare Parts Supplies Fuel Prepaid Expenses And Other Net Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of capitalized payments for supplies, spare parts (principally aircraft related), fuel and retail goods consumed or sold within one year or the operating cycle, if longer and sum of the amounts paid in advance for capitalized costs that will be expensed with the passage of time of the occurrence of a triggering event and will be charged against earnings within one year or the normal operating cycle, if longer. Also included are aggregate carrying amount of current assets, expected to be realized or consumed within one year (or the operating cycle, if longer), not separately presented in the balance sheet due to materiality considerations. Aircraft Purchase Obligation [Axis] Aircraft Purchase Obligation [Table] Describes the number and type of aircraft committed to purchase as of the balance sheet date. Aircraft Purchase Obligation [Domain] Boeing 757 [Member] Boeing 777 Freighter [Member] Total Other Longterm Assets Total other long-term assets Sum of the carrying amounts as of the balance sheet date of all assets that are expected to be realized in cash, sold or consumed after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer, excluding property, plant and equipment. Intercompany charges, net Intercompany Charges Net Operating Operating expenses arising from transactions with entities that are affiliates of the reporting entity by means of direct or indirect ownership. Intercompany charges, net Intercompany Charges Net Non Operating Non-operating expenses arising from transactions with entities that are affiliates of the reporting entity by means of direct or indirect ownership. Net transfers from (to) Parent The net cash inflow (outflow) from parent as a source of financing. Payment on loan between subsidiaries The net cash inflow (outflow) from the proceeds and repayments made on the borrowing from one affiliate to another. Payment on loan between subsidiaries Payment on loan from Parent The net cash inflow (outflow) from the proceeds and repayments made on the borrowing of an affiliate from the Parent. Payment on loan from Parent Other Liabilities Noncurrent Total Total other long-term liabilities Total obligations incurred as part of normal operations that is expected to be repaid beyond the following twelve months or one business cycle, excluding all long-term debt. Pension Plan, Net Periodic Benefit Cost Total net periodic benefit cost U.S. domestic and international pension plans The total amount of net periodic benefit cost for pension plans for the period. Periodic benefit costs include the following components: service cost, interest cost, expected return on plan assets, gain or loss, prior service cost or credit, transition asset or obligation, and gain or loss due to settlements or curtailments. Postretirement Healthcare Plans, Net Periodic Benefit Cost Postretirement healthcare plans The total amount of net periodic benefit cost for defined benefit postretirement healthcare plans for the period. Periodic benefit costs include the following components: service cost, interest cost, expected return on plan assets, gain or loss, prior service cost or credit, transition asset or obligation, and gain or loss due to settlements or curtailments. Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Tables) [Abstract] Condensed Consolidating Financial Statements (Tables) Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income [Text Block] Condensed Consolidating Statements of Income Text block that encapsulates the condensed consolidating income statements. Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets [Text Block] Condensed Consolidating Balance Sheets Text block that encapsulates the condensed consolidating balance sheets. Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows [Text Block] Condensed Consolidating Statements of Cash Flows Text block that encapsulates the condensed consolidating statements of cash flows. Expected Pensions Contributions Remaining The amount of the expected contributions related to U.S. domestic pension plans due within the current fiscal year. Expected Quarterly Pension Contributions Remaining Remaining Conditional Aircraft Commitments The remaining number of aircraft committed to be purchased which are conditional on certain events. Remaining Conditional B777F Aircraft Commitments Loss Contingency [Line Items] Guarantor Obligations [Abstract] Guarantor Obligations Loss Contingency Awarded Damages Describes the awarded damages to plaintiff in the legal matter. Loss Contingencies By Plaintiff [Axis] Loss Contingencies Plaintiffs [Domain] Other Aircraft Commitments Disclosure [Line Items] A T A Airlines [Member] Voluntary Retirement Plan Contributions by employer The amount of voluntary contributions made by the employer. Voluntary U.S. pension plan contributions Required Retirement Plan Contributions by employer The amount of required contributions made by the employer. Required U.S. pension plan contributions Schedule of Pension Plans Contributions [Text Block] This schedule shows the components of U.S. domestic pension plans contributions. Schedule of Pension Plans Contributions Business Realignment (Tables) [Abstract] Business Realignment Table [Text Block] Schedule disclosing incremental costs and charges related to business realignment. Business Realignment Cost Table Loss Contingency Awarded Interest Describes the awarded interest to plantiff in the legal matter. Defined Benefit Plan March Employer Contributions In Current Fiscal Year The employer's contributions paid to the plan in March 2012. Contributions may be presented in the aggregate combining (1) contributions required by funding regulations or laws, (2) discretionary contributions, and (3) noncash contributions. March 2012 U.S. Pension Plans contribution Treasury Shares [Abstract] Number Of Shares Repurchased