Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 311,437	$ 333,920
Short-term investments	300,051	286,853
Trade receivables, less allowances for doubtful accounts of $23,027 and $22,128, respectively	447,949	414,969
Inventories	493,831	440,900
Deferred income taxes	112,824	114,250
Prepaid expenses	34,860	31,452
Other current assets	134,945	110,011
Total current assets	1,835,897	1,732,355
Securities and other investments	74,876	74,869
Property, plant and equipment, at cost	652,695	642,256
Less accumulated depreciation and amortization	460,184	449,562
Property, plant and equipment, net	192,511	192,694
Goodwill	257,374	253,063
Deferred income taxes	91,752	91,090
Other assets	178,982	173,372
Total assets	2,631,392	2,517,443
Current liabilities
Notes payable	39,425	21,722
Accounts payable	231,478	221,964
Deferred revenue	287,360	241,992
Payroll and other benefits liabilities	55,992	79,854
Other current liabilities	253,068	258,685
Total current liabilities	867,323	824,217
Long-term debt	618,095	606,154
Pensions and other benefits	136,210	148,399
Postretirement and other benefits	23,547	23,196
Deferred income taxes	32,914	32,029
Other long-term liabilities	28,300	25,188
Commitments and contingencies	0	0
Diebold, Incorporated shareholders' equity
Preferred shares, no par value, 1,000,000 authorized shares, none issued	0	0
Common shares, $1.25 par value, 125,000,000 authorized shares, 77,389,520 and 76,840,956 issued shares, 62,986,756 and 62,513,615 outstanding shares, respectively	96,737	96,051
Additional capital	340,818	327,805
Retained earnings	1,018,279	991,210
Treasury shares, at cost (14,402,764 and 14,327,341 shares, respectively)	(550,622)	(547,737)
Accumulated other comprehensive income	(11,165)	(40,343)
Total Diebold, Incorporated shareholders' equity	894,047	826,986
Noncontrolling interests	30,956	31,274
Total equity	925,003	858,260
Total liabilities and equity	$ 2,631,392	$ 2,517,443