Acquisition and divestitures (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended						6 Months Ended	9 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Jun. 01, 2021	Sep. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021		Jun. 30, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Jun. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Measurement-period adjustment, goodwill			$ 1,343
Purchase accounting adjustment, deferred income tax liabilities			1,343
Acquired intangibles									$ 76,004
Payment for acquisition, net of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents acquired									0	$ 956,717
Acquisition transaction costs		$ 51		$ 208					112	18,816
Total revenue		555,038		532,141					1,674,006	1,451,622
Net income (loss) attributable to Deluxe		14,725		12,464					46,430	48,856
Restructuring and integration expense		15,319		13,894					46,830	41,085
Pro forma revenue				532,141	[1]	$ 535,493	$ 518,104	$ 1,053,597		1,585,738	$ 2,156,313	$ 2,079,103
Pro forma net income (loss) attributable to Deluxe				14,695	[1]	24,579	$ 19,044	43,623		58,318	74,843	(54,489)
Proceeds from sale of businesses and facility									25,248	2,648
Gain on sale of businesses and facility		1,804		0					19,331	0
Customer lists/relationships [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Acquired intangibles									18,924
Partner relationships [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Acquired intangibles									1,304
Internal-use software [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Acquired intangibles									55,776
Australian web hosting business [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of businesses and facility			17,620
Gain on sale of businesses and facility			15,166
Lancaster, California facility [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of businesses and facility			6,929
Gain on sale of businesses and facility			$ 2,361
Reportable business segments [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Total revenue		555,038		532,141					1,674,006	1,451,622
Reportable business segments [Member] | Cloud Solutions [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Total revenue		66,739		69,497					204,824	199,784
Reportable business segments [Member] | Cloud Solutions [Member] | Australian web hosting business [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Total revenue											23,766
Reportable business segments [Member] | Promotional Solutions [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Total revenue		$ 136,081		130,330					408,600	389,825
Reportable business segments [Member] | Promotional Solutions [Member] | Promotional Solutions business exits [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Total revenue											29,000
Adjustment [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Pro forma revenue						(27,595)		(27,595)		(27,595)	(26,335)	(3,027)
Pro forma net income (loss) attributable to Deluxe				$ 2,231		$ 7,636		$ 5,911		8,142	10,138	$ (9,082)
First American Payment Systems, L.P. [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Accounts receivable	$ 27,296
Other current assets	8,533
Property, plant and equipment	9,873
Operating lease assets	24,396
Acquired intangibles	291,111
Goodwill	728,516
Other non-current assets	350
Accounts payable	(18,475)
Funds held for customers	(9,428)
Accrued liabilities	(23,460)
Operating lease liabilities, non-current	(21,316)
Deferred income taxes	(54,506)
Other non-current liabilities	(4,376)
Payment for acquisition, net of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents acquired											$ 958,514
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents acquired	15,841
Total revenue									259,724	109,828
Net income (loss) attributable to Deluxe									2,902	$ 824
Restructuring and integration expense									$ 5,209
First American Payment Systems, L.P. [Member] | Customer lists/relationships [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Acquired intangibles	127,000
First American Payment Systems, L.P. [Member] | Partner relationships [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Acquired intangibles	72,000
First American Payment Systems, L.P. [Member] | Technology-based intangibles [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Acquired intangibles	65,000
First American Payment Systems, L.P. [Member] | Trade names [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Acquired intangibles	21,000
First American Payment Systems, L.P. [Member] | Internal-use software [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Acquired intangibles	$ 6,111

[1] Only net income attributable to Deluxe was revised for the quarter ended September 30, 2021.