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

No definition available.

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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

Loss Contingency, Percentage of Mastercard's U.K. Interchange Volume Over the Relevant Damages Period

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- 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

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationSettlementExpense
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

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingencyNumberOfPlaintiffs
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
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=ma_EventInvolvingMemberBanksAndMastercardMember
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Data Type:	na
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- 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
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LossContingenciesByNatureOfContingencyAxis=ma_USMerchantLitigationClassLitigationMember
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Data Type:	na
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- Details

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

Name:	us-gaap_LitigationCaseAxis=ma_ProposedU.K.InterchangeCollectiveActionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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- Details

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

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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- Details

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- Details

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Legal and Regulatory Proceedings (Details) $ in Millions, £ in Billions	1 Months Ended				3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Oct. 31, 2016 plaintiff	Jun. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2011 plaintiff	Feb. 28, 2011	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) merchant	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 GBP (£)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) merchant	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Legal And Regulatory
Accrued litigation					$ 716				$ 716		$ 709
Restricted cash for litigation settlement					543				543		$ 541
Provision for litigation settlements					0		$ 0		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
Amount of damages sought (that exceeds)									5,000
U.S. Merchant Lawsuit Settlement
Legal And Regulatory
Accrued litigation					$ 705				$ 705
U.S. Merchant Litigation - Class Litigation
Legal And Regulatory
Approximate percentage of merchants that opted out of settlement (that exceeds)					25.00%				25.00%
Minimum \| U.S. Merchant Litigation - Class Litigation
Legal And Regulatory
Legal proceeding complaints from merchants that have opted out of settlement \| merchant					30				30
Proposed U.K. Interchange Collective Action [Member]
Legal And Regulatory
Amount of damages sought (that exceeds)								£ 14	$ 18,000
United Kingdom Cross-border Interchange and Domestic Interchange
Legal And Regulatory
Amount of damages sought (that exceeds)									1,000
U.K. Merchant Lawsuit Settlement
Legal And Regulatory
Provision for litigation settlements		$ 61				$ 107
Amount of damages sought (that exceeds)									$ 1,000
Mastercard's U.K. Interchange Volume Over the Relevant Damages Period (as a percent)								40.00%	40.00%
U.K. Merchant Lawsuit Settlement \| Minimum
Legal And Regulatory
Estimate of possible loss					$ 300				$ 300
ATM Operators Complaint
Legal And Regulatory
Number of plaintiffs in case \| plaintiff			13
Subsequent Event [Member] \| U.K. Merchant Lawsuit
Legal And Regulatory
Number of plaintiffs in case \| plaintiff	11