Stock Compensation Plans	6 Months Ended
Jun. 30, 2015
Disclosure of Compensation Related Costs, Share-based Payments [Abstract]
Stock Compensation Plans	Stock Compensation Plans For the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, the Company recognized stock-based compensation expense of $10.2 million and $21.9 million, respectively, resulting from stock options, restricted stock units, performance-based restricted stock units and bonus stock units in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, the Company recognized stock-based compensation expense of $9.5 million and $20.8 million, respectively. During the six months ended June 30, 2015, the Company granted 1.0 million options at a weighted-average exercise price of $19.32, 2.1 million restricted stock units at a weighted-average grant date fair value of $17.92, and 0.6 million performance-based restricted stock units (based on targeted performance) at a weighted-average grant date fair value of $17.66. The majority of share unit grants do not provide for the payment of dividend equivalents. For those grants, the value of the grants is reduced by the net present value of the foregone dividend equivalent payments. As of June 30, 2015, the Company had 12.4 million outstanding options at a weighted-average exercise price of $18.00 and 9.2 million options exercisable at a weighted-average exercise price of $18.60. The Company had 7.8 million non-vested restricted stock units at a weighted-average grant date fair value of $15.42 as of June 30, 2015. The restricted stock units typically vest over four equal annual increments beginning 12 months after the date of grant. Restricted stock units granted prior to 2014 typically become 100% vested on the three year anniversary of the grant date. Restricted stock units granted to retirement eligible employees generally vest on a prorated basis upon termination. The fair value of the awards granted is measured based on the fair value of the shares on the date of grant. The performance-based restricted stock units granted in 2015 are restricted stock units, primarily granted to the Company's executives and consist of two separate awards. The first award consists of performance-based restricted stock units, which require the Company to meet certain financial objectives during 2015, 2016 and 2017. The second award consists of performance-based restricted stock units with a market condition tied to the Company's total shareholder return in relation to the S&P 500 index as calculated over a three-year performance period (2015 through 2017). The actual number of performance-based restricted stock units that the recipients will receive for both 2015 awards will range from 0% up to 150% of the target number of stock units granted based on actual financial and total shareholder return performance results. The grant date fair value of the performance-based restricted stock units is fixed and the amount of restricted stock units that will ultimately vest depends upon the level of achievement of the performance and market conditions over the performance period. The fair value of the performance-based restricted stock units that are tied solely to performance conditions is measured similar to the restricted stock units discussed above, while the fair value of the performance-based restricted stock units that are tied to a market condition is determined using the Monte-Carlo simulation model. Unlike the performance-based awards that are tied solely to performance conditions, compensation costs related to awards with market conditions are recognized regardless of whether the market condition is satisfied, provided that the requisite service period has been completed. Options granted in 2015, primarily to the Company's executives, were issued with exercise prices equal to the fair market value of Western Union common stock on the grant date, have 10-year terms, and typically vest over four equal annual increments beginning 12 months after the date of grant, with the exception of options granted to retirement eligible employees, which generally will vest on a prorated basis, upon termination. The Company used the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the fair value of the options granted during the six months ended June 30, 2015 using assumptions materially consistent with those disclosed in the Company's consolidated financial statements within the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014. On May 15, 2015, the Company's shareholders approved the adoption of The Western Union Company 2015 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“2015 LTIP”). The 2015 LTIP provides for the granting of stock options, restricted stock awards and units, unrestricted stock awards and units, and other equity-based awards, to employees and non-employee directors of the Company. Prior to this, awards were granted out of the 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan. The awards subject to grant under the 2015 LTIP have terms that are similar to those awarded under the previous 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan.

Stock Compensation Plans

For the three and six months ended June 30, 2015, the Company recognized stock-based compensation expense of $10.2 million and $21.9 million, respectively, resulting from stock options, restricted stock units, performance-based restricted stock units and bonus stock units in the Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income. For the three and six months ended June 30, 2014, the Company recognized stock-based compensation expense of $9.5 million and $20.8 million, respectively. During the six months ended June 30, 2015, the Company granted 1.0 million options at a weighted-average exercise price of $19.32, 2.1 million restricted stock units at a weighted-average grant date fair value of $17.92, and 0.6 million performance-based restricted stock units (based on targeted performance) at a weighted-average grant date fair value of $17.66. The majority of share unit grants do not provide for the payment of dividend equivalents. For those grants, the value of the grants is reduced by the net present value of the foregone dividend equivalent payments. As of June 30, 2015, the Company had 12.4 million outstanding options at a weighted-average exercise price of $18.00 and 9.2 million options exercisable at a weighted-average exercise price of $18.60. The Company had 7.8 million non-vested restricted stock units at a weighted-average grant date fair value of $15.42 as of June 30, 2015.

The restricted stock units typically vest over four equal annual increments beginning 12 months after the date of grant. Restricted stock units granted prior to 2014 typically become 100% vested on the three year anniversary of the grant date. Restricted stock units granted to retirement eligible employees generally vest on a prorated basis upon termination. The fair value of the awards granted is measured based on the fair value of the shares on the date of grant.

The performance-based restricted stock units granted in 2015 are restricted stock units, primarily granted to the Company's executives and consist of two separate awards. The first award consists of performance-based restricted stock units, which require the Company to meet certain financial objectives during 2015, 2016 and 2017. The second award consists of performance-based restricted stock units with a market condition tied to the Company's total shareholder return in relation to the S&P 500 index as calculated over a three-year performance period (2015 through 2017). The actual number of performance-based restricted stock units that the recipients will receive for both 2015 awards will range from 0% up to 150% of the target number of stock units granted based on actual financial and total shareholder return performance results. The grant date fair value of the performance-based restricted stock units is fixed and the amount of restricted stock units that will ultimately vest depends upon the level of achievement of the performance and market conditions over the performance period. The fair value of the performance-based restricted stock units that are tied solely to performance conditions is measured similar to the restricted stock units discussed above, while the fair value of the performance-based restricted stock units that are tied to a market condition is determined using the Monte-Carlo simulation model. Unlike the performance-based awards that are tied solely to performance conditions, compensation costs related to awards with market conditions are recognized regardless of whether the market condition is satisfied, provided that the requisite service period has been completed.

Options granted in 2015, primarily to the Company's executives, were issued with exercise prices equal to the fair market value of Western Union common stock on the grant date, have 10-year terms, and typically vest over four equal annual increments beginning 12 months after the date of grant, with the exception of options granted to retirement eligible employees, which generally will vest on a prorated basis, upon termination. The Company used the Black-Scholes option pricing model to determine the fair value of the options granted during the six months ended June 30, 2015 using assumptions materially consistent with those disclosed in the Company's consolidated financial statements within the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014.

On May 15, 2015, the Company's shareholders approved the adoption of The Western Union Company 2015 Long-Term Incentive Plan (“2015 LTIP”). The 2015 LTIP provides for the granting of stock options, restricted stock awards and units, unrestricted stock awards and units, and other equity-based awards, to employees and non-employee directors of the Company. Prior to this, awards were granted out of the 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan. The awards subject to grant under the 2015 LTIP have terms that are similar to those awarded under the previous 2006 Long-Term Incentive Plan.