Approximate percentage of merchants that opted out of settlement as reported by the class administrator

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	ma_
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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Legal and Regulatory [Line Items] [Line Items]

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ma_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Legal proceeding complaints from merchants that have opted out of settlement

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ma_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percent Of Settlement Reporting Entity Would Pay

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	ma_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Carrying amount of reserve for known or estimated probable loss from litigation, which may include attorneys' fees and other litigation costs, which is expected to be paid within one year of the date of the statement of financial position.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.25)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 55
-Paragraph 11
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6396582&loc=d3e15243-108350

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of litigation expense, including but not limited to legal, forensic, accounting, and investigative fees.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

The value (monetary amount) of the award the plaintiff seeks in the legal matter.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14326-108349

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14557-108349

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (a)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349

+ Details

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

- Definition

Reflects the estimated amount of loss from the specified contingency as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14435-108349

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 450
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 9
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=25496072&loc=d3e14557-108349

+ Details

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

- Definition

Number of plaintiffs that have filed claims pertaining to a loss contingency.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The carrying amounts of cash and cash equivalent items which are restricted as to withdrawal or usage. Restrictions may include legally restricted deposits held as compensating balances against short-term borrowing arrangements, contracts entered into with others, or entity statements of intention with regard to particular deposits; however, time deposits and short-term certificates of deposit are not generally included in legally restricted deposits. Excludes compensating balance arrangements that are not agreements which legally restrict the use of cash amounts shown on the balance sheet. For a classified balance sheet represents the current portion only (the noncurrent portion has a separate concept); there is a separate and distinct element for unclassified presentations.

+ References

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=ma_EventInvolvingVisaPartiesMemberBanksAndMastercardMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=ma_EventInvolvingMemberBanksAndMastercardMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=ma_CanadianCompetitionBureauMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=ma_USMerchantLawsuitSettlementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=ma_USMerchantLitigationClassLitigationMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=ma_UnitedKingdomCrossborderInterchangeandDomesticInterchangeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=ma_U.K.MerchantLawsuitSettlementMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=ma_U.K.MerchantLawsuitMember
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Data Type:	na
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=ma_ATMOperatorsComplaintMember
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Legal and Regulatory Proceedings (Details) $ in Millions	1 Months Ended				3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
Legal and Regulatory Proceedings (Details) $ in Millions	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) merchant plaintiff	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2011 plaintiff	Feb. 28, 2011	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) merchant	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) merchant	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Legal And Regulatory
Accrued litigation	$ 810				$ 810		$ 810		$ 709
Restricted cash for litigation settlement	542				542		542		$ 541
Provision for litigation settlements					107	$ 61	107	$ 61
Event Involving Visa Parties, Member Banks and MasterCard
Legal And Regulatory
Percent of settlement MasterCard would pay				12.00%
Event Involving Member Banks and MasterCard
Legal And Regulatory
Percent of settlement MasterCard would pay				36.00%
Canadian Competition Bureau
Legal And Regulatory
Damages sought, value							5,000
U.S. Merchant Lawsuit Settlement
Legal And Regulatory
Accrued litigation	$ 705				$ 705		$ 705
Minimum \| U.S. Merchant Litigation - Class Litigation
Legal And Regulatory
Approximate percentage of merchants that opted out of settlement	25.00%				25.00%		25.00%
Legal proceeding complaints from merchants that have opted out of settlement \| merchant	30				30		30
United Kingdom Cross-border Interchange and Domestic Interchange \| Minimum
Legal And Regulatory
Damages sought, value							$ 1,000
U.K. Merchant Lawsuit Settlement
Legal And Regulatory
Provision for litigation settlements		$ 61			$ 107
U.K. Merchant Lawsuit Settlement \| Minimum
Legal And Regulatory
Damages sought, value							1,000
Estimate of possible loss	$ 265				$ 265		$ 265
U.K. Merchant Lawsuit
Legal And Regulatory
Number of plaintiffs in case \| plaintiff	12
ATM Operators Complaint
Legal And Regulatory
Number of plaintiffs in case \| plaintiff			13