XML 62 R52.htm IDEA: XBRL DOCUMENT
v3.21.2

Financial Instruments (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions | 3 Months Ended | 9 Months Ended |
--- | --- | --- | ---
Sep. 30, 2021 | Sep. 30, 2021 | Dec. 31, 2020
Short-Term Investments [Abstract] |  |  |
Short-term investments | $ 46 | $ 46 | $ 60
Fair Value of Debt Instruments [Abstract] |  |  |
Fair value of total debt | 32,800 | 32,800 | 31,900
Fair value of total debt in excess of (less than) carrying value | 3,400 | 3,400 | $ 5,100
Equity Securities, FV-NI, Gain (Loss) [Abstract] |  |  |
Unrealized gain (loss) on fair value of equity investments | (12) | 8 |
Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2) [Member] | Time Deposits [Member] |  |  |
Short-Term Investments [Abstract] |  |  |
Short-term investments | $ 46 | $ 46 |

X
- Definition Fair value of total debt in excess of (less than) carrying value. + References No definition available. + Details
Name: | unp_FairValueOfTotalDebtInExcessOfCarryingValue
Namespace Prefix: | unp_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- Definition Fair value portion of debt instrument payable, including, but not limited to, notes payable and loans payable. + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 825 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 10 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121572278&loc=d3e13433-108611 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | instant

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValueDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of unrealized and realized gain (loss) on investment in equity security measured at fair value with change in fair value recognized in net income (FV-NI). + References Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 321 -SubTopic 10 -Section 50 -Paragraph 4 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120269885&loc=SL75117546-209714 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiGainLoss
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | credit
Period Type: | duration

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_EquitySecuritiesFvNiGainLossAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Definition Amount of investment in debt security measured at amortized cost (held-to-maturity), classified as current. + References Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef -Publisher FASB -Name Accounting Standards Codification -Topic 320 -SubTopic 10 -Section 45 -Paragraph 2 -URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121553693&loc=d3e26626-111562 + Details
Name: | us-gaap_HeldToMaturitySecuritiesCurrent
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type: | debit
Period Type: | instant

X
- References No definition available. + Details
Name: | us-gaap_InvestmentsFairValueDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix: | us-gaap_
Data Type: | xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type: | na
Period Type: | duration

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_FairValueByFairValueHierarchyLevelAxis=us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |

X
- Details
Name: | us-gaap_InvestmentTypeAxis=us-gaap_BankTimeDepositsMember
Namespace Prefix: |
Data Type: | na
Balance Type: |
Period Type: |