Long Term Debt and Other Financing Arrangements (Details 2) (USD $)	12 Months Ended
May 31, 2011	May 31, 2010
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangements Abstract
Long Term Debt Exclusive of Capital Leases Carrying Value	$ 1,500,000,000	$ 1,800,000,000
Long Term Debt Exclusive Of Capital Leases Fair Value	1,900,000,000	2,100,000,000
Repayments Of Capital Lease Obligations	12,000,000	153,000,000
Line Of Credit Facility Maximum Borrowing Capacity	1,000,000,000
Line Of Credit Facility Current Borrowing Capacity	1,000,000,000
Line Of Credit Facility Amount Replaced	1,000,000,000
Line Of Credit Facility Covenant Terms Leverage Ratio	0.5
Letters Of Credit Outstanding	619,000,000
Surety Bonds Placed	460,000,000
Unused Portion Of Letter Of Credit Facility	93,000,000
Letter Of Credit Maximum Facility	500,000,000
Repayment Of Seven Point Two Five Percent Note [Member]
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangements Abstract
Repayments of Unsecured Debt	250,000,000
Debt Instrument Interest Rate Stated Percentage	7.25%
Repayment Of Five Point Five Percent Note [Member]
Long Term Debt And Other Financing Arrangements Abstract
Repayments of Unsecured Debt		500,000,000
Debt Instrument Interest Rate Stated Percentage		$ 5.50%

Maximum amount available under a letter of credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

Name:	fdx_LetterOfCreditMaximumFacility
Namespace Prefix:	fdx
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying value of liability amounts that are guaranteed by a bank as of the period-end date. The underlying liabilities insured by these instruments are reflected in the balance sheets, where applicable. Therefore, no additional liability is reflected for the letters of credit.

+ Details

Name:	fdx_LettersOfCreditOutstanding
Namespace Prefix:	fdx
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of borrowing capacity under the replaced credit facility.

+ Details

Name:	fdx_LineOfCreditFacilityAmountReplaced
Namespace Prefix:	fdx
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

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 0.7 to 1.0.

+ Details

Name:	fdx_LineOfCreditFacilityCovenantTermsLeverageRatio
Namespace Prefix:	fdx
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	fdx_LongTermDebtAndOtherFinancingArrangementsAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	fdx
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Including current and noncurrent portions, aggregate carrying amount of long-term borrowings as of the balance sheet date. May include notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, which had initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer, and after deducting unamortized discount or premiums, if any.

+ Details

Name:	fdx_LongTermDebtExclusiveOfCapitalLeasesCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix:	fdx
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Including current and noncurrent portions, aggregate fair value amount of long-term borrowings as of the balance sheet date. May include notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt, which had initial maturities beyond one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer, and after deducting unamortized discount or premiums, if any.

+ Details

Name:	fdx_LongTermDebtExclusiveOfCapitalLeasesFairValue
Namespace Prefix:	fdx
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying value of liability amounts that are guaranteed by a third-party insurance provider as of the period-end date. The underlying liabilities insured by these instruments are reflected in the balance sheets, where applicable. Therefore, no additional liability is reflected for the letters of credit.

+ Details

Name:	fdx_SuretyBondsPlaced
Namespace Prefix:	fdx
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of capacity currently available under the letter of credit facility (current capacity less the amount of letters of credit outstanding) as of the period-end date.

+ Details

Name:	fdx_UnusedPortionOfLetterOfCreditFacility
Namespace Prefix:	fdx
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 22
-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	us-types:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of current borrowing capacity under the credit facility considering any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed (for example, borrowings may be limited by the amount of current assets), but without considering any amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19, 22
-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCurrentBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 129
-Paragraph 2, 4

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher SEC
-Name Regulation S-X (SX)
-Number 210
-Section 02
-Paragraph 19, 22
-Article 5

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The cash outflow for the obligation for lease meeting the criteria for capitalization (with maturities exceeding one year or beyond the operating cycle of the entity, if longer).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 26, 31

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermCapitalLeaseObligations
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow from the payment of uncollateralized debt obligation (where debt is not backed by the pledge of collateral).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 18

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)
-Number 95
-Paragraph 20
-Subparagraph b

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration