Document and Entity Information (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Nov. 01, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Entity Registrant Name	TELETECH HOLDINGS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001013880
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2012
Amendment Flag	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2012
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Public Float			$ 352,854,512
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		53,714,715