Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, 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
Income used in basic and diluted earnings per share:
Income (loss) from continuing operations, net of tax										$ 81,579		$ 144,292		$ (20,527)
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax										(3,125)		523		275
Net income (loss) attributable to Diebold, Incorporated	$ (10,645)		$ 17,434	$ 26,502	$ 45,163	$ 79,755	$ 41,755	$ 20,804	$ 2,501	$ 78,454		$ 144,815		$ (20,252)
Denominator:
Weighted-average number of common shares used in basic earnings per share	63,230,000		63,211,000	63,064,000	62,725,000	62,599,000	63,626,000	65,028,000	65,762,000	63,061,000		64,244,000		65,907,000
Effect of dilutive shares (1)										853,000	[1]	548,000	[1]	0	[1]
Weighted-average number of shares used in diluted earnings per share	63,230,000	[2]	64,134,000	64,035,000	63,333,000	63,300,000	64,186,000	65,482,000	66,230,000	63,914,000		64,792,000		65,907,000
Anti-dilutive shares:
Anti-dilutive shares not used in calculating diluted weighted-average shares										2,201,000		2,270,000		2,658,000
Incremental Shares, Excluded From Dilutive Calculation, Due To Resulting in Operating Loss	786,000													632,000

[1] Incremental shares of 632,000 were excluded from the computation of diluted EPS for the year ended December 31, 2010 because their effect is anti-dilutive due to the loss from continuing operations.

[2] (1) incremental shares of 786,000 were excluded from the computation of diluted EPS for the quarter ended December 31, 2012 because their effect is anti-dilutive due to the loss from continuing operations