Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income (Loss) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Net income (loss)	$ 84,396	$ 152,100	$ (16,683)
Interest rate hedges:
Net gain (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income (net of tax of $(99), $336 and $(141), respectively)	141	(491)	(442)
Less: reclassification adjustment for net gains included in net income (net of tax of $(230), $(178) and $(257), respectively)	91	156	305
Total interest rate hedges, net of tax	50	(647)	(747)
Pension and other postretirement benefits:
Prior service cost recognized during the year (net of tax of $99, $94 and $133, respectively)	(160)	(164)	(187)
Net actuarial losses recognized during the year (net of tax of $(6,544), $(3,597) and $(2,490), respectively)	10,721	6,289	3,482
Prior service cost occurring during the year (net of tax of $0, $0 and $312, respectively)	0	0	(436)
Net actuarial losses occuring during the year (net of tax of $23,765, $26,062 and $10,061, respectively)	(38,939)	(45,568)	(14,069)
Settlements (net of tax of $(8,303), $0 and $0, respectively)	13,604	0	0
Total pension and other postretirement benefits, net of tax	(14,774)	(39,443)	(11,210)
Unrealized gain (loss), net on securities:
Net gain (loss) recognized in other comprehensive income	3,304	1,130	(1,264)
Less: reclassification adjustment for net gain (loss) included in net income	4,523	(1,505)	33
Total unrealized gain (loss), net on securities	(1,219)	2,635	(1,297)
Other	(168)	(494)	(220)
Other comprehensive (loss) income, net of tax	(50,472)	(112,771)	15,016
Comprehensive income (loss)	33,924	39,329	(1,667)
Less: comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests	6,166	8,483	4,238
Comprehensive income (loss) attributable to Diebold, Incorporated	27,758	30,846	(5,905)
Translation adjustment
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax
Translation adjustment and foreign currency hedges, net of tax	(36,164)	(75,877)	28,490
Foreign currency hedges
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net of Tax
Translation adjustment and foreign currency hedges, net of tax	$ 1,803	$ 1,055	$ 0