Segment Information - Revenue By Geographic Region and Product/Service Solution (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Revenue summary by geographic region
Total customer revenues (domestic)									$ 1,341,167	$ 1,262,914	$ 1,335,160
Percentage of total revenue (domestic)									47.30%	44.70%	49.10%
Total customer revenues (international)									1,494,681	1,560,879	1,383,132
Percentage of total revenue (international)									52.70%	55.30%	50.90%
Revenue summary by product and service solution
Products									1,283,490	1,330,368	1,238,346
Services									1,552,358	1,493,425	1,479,946
Customer revenues	849,987	709,322	662,382	614,157	790,994	748,620	665,180	618,999	2,835,848	2,823,793	2,718,292
Financial self-service [Member]
Revenue summary by product and service solution
Products									996,673	959,820	985,275
Services									1,140,872	1,086,569	1,083,875
Customer revenues									2,137,545	2,046,389	2,069,150
Security [Member]
Revenue summary by product and service solution
Products									194,028	223,514	247,518
Services									411,474	406,831	396,071
Customer revenues									605,502	630,345	643,589
Total financial self-service & security [Member]
Revenue summary by product and service solution
Customer revenues									2,743,047	2,676,734	2,712,739
Election and lottery systems [Member]
Revenue summary by product and service solution
Customer revenues									92,801	147,059	5,553
Latin America including Brazil [Member]
Revenue summary by product and service solution
Customer revenues									662,805	770,691	602,549
Asia Pacific [Member]
Revenue summary by product and service solution
Customer revenues									422,491	380,970	387,119
Europe, Middle East and Africa [Member]
Revenue summary by product and service solution
Customer revenues									345,534	351,551	346,163
Diebold North America [Member]
Revenue summary by product and service solution
Customer revenues									1,405,018	1,320,581	1,382,461
Diebold International [Member]
Revenue summary by product and service solution
Customer revenues									$ 1,430,830	$ 1,503,212	$ 1,335,831