CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	Total	Adoption of Accounting Standards Update [Member]	Common shares par value [Member]	Additional paid-in capital [Member]	Retained earnings [Member]	Retained earnings [Member] Adoption of Accounting Standards Update [Member]	Accumulated other comprehensive loss [Member]	Non-controlling interest [Member]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ (56,579)
Balance, beginning of year at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 915,413		$ 44,647	$ 0	$ 927,345		$ (56,579)	$ 0
Balance, beginning of year (ASU No. 2016-02 [Member]) at Dec. 31, 2018		$ (267)				$ (267)
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2018	44,647
Net income (loss) attributable to Deluxe	$ (223,779)				(223,779)
Net income attributable to non-controlling Interest	0
Net income (loss)	(223,779)
Cash dividends ($1.20 per share)	(52,285)				(52,285)
Common shares issued	$ 3,839		194	3,645
Common shares issued, shares	194
Common shares repurchased	$ (118,547)		(2,632)	(13,615)	(102,300)
Common shares repurchased, shares	(2,632)
Other common shares retired	$ (3,935)		(83)	(3,852)
Other common shares retired, shares	(83)
Employee share-based compensation	$ 17,908			17,908
Other comprehensive income (loss)	8,632						8,632
Balance, end of year at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 546,979		42,126	4,086	548,714		(47,947)	0
Balance, end of year (ASU No. 2016-13 [Member]) at Dec. 31, 2019		$ (3,640)				$ (3,640)
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2019	42,126
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ (47,947)
Net income (loss) attributable to Deluxe	5,244				5,244
Net income attributable to non-controlling Interest	91							91
Net income (loss)	5,335
Cash dividends ($1.20 per share)	(51,431)				(51,431)
Common shares issued	$ 3,892		446	3,446
Common shares issued, shares	446
Common shares repurchased	$ (14,000)		(499)	(9,767)	(3,734)
Common shares repurchased, shares	(499)
Other common shares retired	$ (2,994)		(100)	(2,894)
Other common shares retired, shares	(100)
Employee share-based compensation	$ 22,687			22,687
Other comprehensive income (loss)	6,514						6,514
Investment in non-controlling interest	50							50
Balance, end of year at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 513,392		41,973	17,558	495,153		(41,433)	141
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2020	41,973
Retained earnings	$ 495,153
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(41,433)
Net income (loss) attributable to Deluxe	62,633				62,633
Net income attributable to non-controlling Interest	139							139
Net income (loss)	62,772
Cash dividends ($1.20 per share)	(52,023)				(52,023)
Common shares issued	$ 17,211		861	16,350
Common shares issued, shares	861
Common shares repurchased, shares	0
Other common shares retired	$ (5,969)		(155)	(5,814)
Other common shares retired, shares	(155)
Employee share-based compensation	$ 29,274			29,274
Other comprehensive income (loss)	9,941						9,941
Balance, end of year at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 574,598		$ 42,679	$ 57,368	$ 505,763		$ (31,492)	$ 280
Balance, shares at Dec. 31, 2021	42,679
Retained earnings	$ 505,763
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	$ (31,492)