Segment Information - Revenue By Geographic Region and Service/Product Solution (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Revenue summary by geographic region
Total customer revenues (domestic)									$ 1,533,674	$ 1,341,167	$ 1,262,914
Percentage of total revenue (domestic)									51.30%	47.30%	44.70%
Total customer revenues (international)									1,458,019	1,494,681	1,560,879
Percentage of total revenue (international)									48.70%	52.70%	55.30%
Revenue summary by service and product solution
Services									1,626,521	1,552,358	1,493,425
Products									1,365,172	1,283,490	1,330,368
Customer revenues	840,095	709,919	743,188	698,491	849,987	709,322	662,382	614,157	2,991,693	2,835,848	2,823,793
Financial self-service [Member]
Revenue summary by service and product solution
Services									1,199,325	1,140,872	1,086,569
Products									1,112,576	996,673	959,820
Customer revenues									2,311,901	2,137,545	2,046,389
Security [Member]
Revenue summary by service and product solution
Services									427,007	411,474	406,831
Products									196,630	194,028	223,514
Customer revenues									623,637	605,502	630,345
Total financial self-service & security [Member]
Revenue summary by service and product solution
Customer revenues									2,935,538	2,743,047	2,676,734
Election and lottery systems [Member]
Revenue summary by service and product solution
Customer revenues									56,155	92,801	147,059
Latin America including Brazil [Member]
Revenue summary by service and product solution
Customer revenues									648,130	662,805	770,691
Asia Pacific [Member]
Revenue summary by service and product solution
Customer revenues									427,542	422,491	380,970
Europe, Middle East and Africa [Member]
Revenue summary by service and product solution
Customer revenues									325,489	345,534	351,551
Diebold North America [Member]
Revenue summary by service and product solution
Customer revenues									1,590,532	1,405,018	1,320,581
Diebold International [Member]
Revenue summary by service and product solution
Customer revenues									$ 1,401,161	$ 1,430,830	$ 1,503,212