Consolidated Statements of Operations (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Net sales
Products	$ 1,283,490	$ 1,330,368	$ 1,238,346
Services	1,552,358	1,493,425	1,479,946
Total sales	2,835,848	2,823,793	2,718,292
Cost of sales
Products	961,706	1,003,923	944,090
Services	1,138,213	1,100,305	1,124,202
Total cost of sales	2,099,919	2,104,228	2,068,292
Gross profit	735,929	719,565	650,000
Selling and administrative expense	501,186	472,956	424,875
Research, development and engineering expense	78,108	74,225	72,026
Impairment of assets	2,962	175,849	2,500
(Gain) loss on sale of assets, net	(1,921)	(1,663)	7
Total operating expense	580,335	721,367	499,408
Operating profit (loss)	155,594	(1,802)	150,592
Other income (expense)
Investment income	41,663	34,545	29,016
Interest expense	(34,456)	(37,887)	(35,452)
Foreign exchange gain (loss), net	3,095	(1,301)	(922)
Miscellaneous, net	(1,504)	4,048	(19,427)
Income (loss) from continuing operations before taxes	164,392	(2,397)	123,807
Taxes on income	12,815	14,561	44,477
Income (loss) from continuing operations	151,577	(16,958)	79,330
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	523	275	(9,884)
Loss on sale of discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	(37,192)
Net income (loss)	152,100	(16,683)	32,254
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	7,285	3,569	6,228
Net income (loss) attributable to Diebold, Incorporated	144,815	(20,252)	26,026
Basic weighted-average shares outstanding	64,244	65,907	66,257
Diluted weighted-average shares outstanding	64,792	65,907	66,867
Basic earnings per share
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	$ 2.24	$ (0.31)	$ 1.10
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	$ 0.01	$ 0.00	$ (0.71)
Net income (loss) attributable to Diebold, Incorporated	$ 2.25	$ (0.31)	$ 0.39
Diluted earnings per share
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	$ 2.23	$ (0.31)	$ 1.09
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	$ 0.01	$ 0.00	$ (0.70)
Net income (loss) attributable to Diebold, Incorporated	$ 2.24	$ (0.31)	$ 0.39
Amounts attributable to Diebold, Incorporated
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax	144,292	(20,527)	73,102
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	523	275	(47,076)
Net income (loss) attributable to Diebold, Incorporated	$ 144,815	$ (20,252)	$ 26,026