Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	12 Months Ended
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Policies)	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounting Policies [Abstract]
Principles of Consolidation	The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of Diebold, Incorporated and its wholly- and majority-owned subsidiaries (collectively, the Company). All significant intercompany accounts and transactions have been eliminated.
Use of Estimates in Preparation of Consolidated Financial Statements	The preparation of the accompanying consolidated financial statements in conformity with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (U.S. GAAP) requires management to make estimates and assumptions about future events. These estimates and the underlying assumptions affect the amounts of assets and liabilities reported, disclosures about contingent assets and liabilities, and reported amounts of revenues and expenses. Such estimates include revenue recognition, the valuation of trade and financing receivables (refer to note 7), inventories, goodwill, intangible assets, other long-lived assets, legal contingencies, guarantee obligations and assumptions used in the calculation of income taxes, pension and other post-retirement benefits and customer incentives, among others. These estimates and assumptions are based on management’s best estimates and judgment. Management evaluates its estimates and assumptions on an ongoing basis using historical experience and other factors. Management monitors the economic condition and other factors and will adjust such estimates and assumptions when facts and circumstances dictate. As future events and their effects cannot be determined with precision, actual results could differ significantly from these estimates.
International Operations	The financial statements of the Company’s international operations are measured using local currencies as their functional currencies, with the exception of Venezuela, which is measured using the U.S. dollar as its functional currency because its economy is considered highly inflationary. The Company translates the assets and liabilities of its non-U.S. subsidiaries at the exchange rates in effect at year end and the results of operations at the average rate throughout the year. The translation adjustments are recorded directly as a separate component of shareholders’ equity, while transaction gains (losses) are included in net income. Sales to customers outside the United States in relation to total consolidated net sales approximated 52.3 percent, 48.7 percent and 52.7 percent in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Reclassifications	The Company continues to work to remediate an internal control weakness pertaining to manufacturing and supply chain processes related to indirect tax incentives in one of its Brazilian subsidiaries. As part of remediation, during the second quarter of 2013, the Company identified an error related to prior year periods for Brazilian indirect tax incentives previously not appropriately recognized in product cost of goods sold. Prior-year amounts of product cost of sales, income tax expense, other current liabilities and retained earnings have been adjusted as management determined that the correction for each respective year is not material to each prior-year period. This correction was recorded within the Company's operations in the Brazil reporting segment. As a result of applying the correction retrospectively, previously reported product cost of sales for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011 increased by $6,533 and $5,455, respectively, and previously reported net income and diluted earnings per share decreased by $4,851 and $0.08 and $668 and $0.02, respectively. The aggregated amount of the correction reflected in other current liabilities and retained earnings as of December 31, 2012, 2011 and 2010 was $18,489, $13,638 and $12,970, respectively. There was no impact of the correction on previously reported cash flows from operations for the prior period. The Company reclassified prior year amounts related to the Company's estimate of losses associated with the global Foreign Corrupt Practices Act (FCPA) investigation to conform to the current-year presentation. As a result of this reclassification, expenses of $16,750 and $3,250 for the years ended December 31, 2012 and 2011, respectively, previously reported within miscellaneous, net are now reported within selling and administrative expense within the consolidated statements of operations. The Company has also restated the presentation of certain prior-year segment information to conform to the current presentation. As discussed in Note 19, effective in the fourth quarter of 2013, the Company began managing its business on a regional geographic basis, changing from the previous model, which was a more condensed geographic basis. In order to align the Company’s external reporting of its financial results with this change, the Company has modified its segment reporting and has restated prior period segment information to conform to the current period presentation of its segment information. The Company now reports the following five segments: North America (NA), Asia Pacific (AP), Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Latin America (LA) and Brazil.
Revenue Recognition	The Company’s revenue recognition policy is consistent with the requirements of Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) Accounting Standards Codification (ASC) 605, Revenue Recognition (ASC 605). In general, the Company records revenue when it is realized, or realizable and earned. The Company considers revenue to be realized, or realizable and earned when, persuasive evidence of an arrangement exists, the products or services have been approved by the customer after delivery and/or installation acceptance or performance of services; the sales price is fixed or determinable within the contract; and collectability is reasonably assured. The Company's products include both hardware and the software required for the equipment to operate as intended, and for product sales, the Company determines the earnings process is complete when title, risk of loss and the right to use the product has transferred to the customer. Within NA, the earnings process is completed upon customer acceptance. Where the Company is contractually responsible for installation, customer acceptance occurs upon completion of the installation of all equipment at a job site and the Company’s demonstration that the equipment is in operable condition. Where the Company is not contractually responsible for installation, customer acceptance occurs upon shipment or delivery to a customer location depending on the terms within the contract. Internationally, customer acceptance is upon the earlier of delivery or completion of the installation depending on the terms in the contract with the customer. The application of ASC 605 to the Company's customer contracts requires judgment, including the determination of whether an arrangement includes multiple deliverables such as hardware, software, maintenance and/or other services. For contracts that contain multiple deliverables, total arrangement consideration is allocated at the inception of the arrangement to each deliverable based on the relative selling price method. The relative selling price method is based on a hierarchy consisting of vendor specific objective evidence (VSOE) (price when sold on a stand-alone basis), if available, or third-party evidence (TPE), if VSOE is not available, or estimated selling price (ESP) if neither VSOE nor TPE is available. The Company's ESP is consistent with the objective of determining VSOE, which is the price at which we would expect to transact on a stand-alone sale of the deliverable. The determination of ESP is based on applying significant judgment to weigh a variety of company-specific factors including our pricing practices, customer volume, geography, internal costs and gross margin objectives, information gathered from experience in customer negotiations, recent technological trends, and competitive landscape. In contracts that involve multiple deliverables, maintenance services are typically accounted for under FASB ASC 605-20, Separately Priced Extended Warranty and Product Maintenance Contracts. For software sales, excluding software required for the equipment to operate as intended, the Company applies the software revenue recognition principles within FASB ASC 985-605, Software - Revenue Recognition. For software and software-related deliverables (software elements), the Company allocates revenue based upon the relative fair value of these deliverables as determined by VSOE. If the Company cannot obtain VSOE for any undelivered software element, revenue is deferred until all deliverables have been delivered or until VSOE can be determined for any remaining undelivered software elements. When the fair value of a delivered element cannot be established, but fair value evidence exists for the undelivered software elements, the Company uses the residual method to recognize revenue. Under the residual method, the fair value of the undelivered elements is deferred and the remaining portion of the arrangement consideration is allocated to the delivered elements and recognized as revenue. The Company has the following revenue streams related to sales to its customers: Financial Self-Service Product & Outsourcing and Managed Services Revenue Financial self-service (FSS) products are primarily automated teller machines (ATMs) and other equipment primarily used in the banking industry which include both hardware and the software required for the equipment to operate as intended. The Company also provides service contracts on FSS products that typically cover a 12-month period and can begin at any time after the warranty period expires. The service provided under warranty is limited as compared to those offered under service contracts. Further, warranty is not considered a separate deliverable of the sale and covers only replacement of defective parts inclusive of labor. Service contracts provide additional services beyond those covered under the warranty, including preventative maintenance service, cleaning, supplies stocking and cash handling, all of which are not essential to the functionality of the equipment. Service revenue also includes services and parts the Company provides on a billed-work basis that are not covered by warranty or service contract. The Company also provides customers with integrated services such as outsourced and managed services, including remote monitoring, trouble-shooting, training, transaction processing, currency management, maintenance or full support services. Electronic Security Products & Outsourcing and Managed Services Revenue The Company provides global product sales, service, installation, project management for longer-term contracts and monitoring of original equipment manufacturer electronic security products to financial, government, retail and commercial customers. These solutions provide the Company’s customers a single-source solution to their electronic security needs. Physical Security & Facility Revenue The Company designs, manufactures and/or procures and installs physical security and facility products. These consist of vaults, safe deposit boxes and safes, drive-up banking equipment and a host of other banking facilities products. Election and Lottery Systems Revenue The Company offers election and lottery systems product solutions and support to the Brazilian government. Election systems revenue consists of election equipment sales, networking, tabulation and diagnostic software development, training, support and maintenance. Lottery systems revenue primarily consists of equipment sales. The election and lottery equipment components are included in product revenue. The software development, training, support and maintenance components are included in service revenue. Software Solutions & Service Revenue The Company offers software solutions, excluding software required for the equipment to operate as intended, consisting of multiple applications that process events and transactions (networking software) along with the related server. Sales of networking software represent software solutions to customers that allow them to network various different vendors’ ATMs onto one network. Included within service revenue is revenue from software support agreements, which are typically 12 months in duration and pertain to networking software.
Depreciation and Amortization	Depreciation of property, plant and equipment is computed using the straight-line method for financial statement purposes. Amortization of leasehold improvements is based upon the shorter of original terms of the lease or life of the improvement. Repairs and maintenance are expensed as incurred. Amortization of the Company’s other long-term assets, such as intangible assets and capitalized computer software, is computed using the straight-line method over the life of the asset.
Advertising Costs	Advertising costs are expensed as incurred and were $9,812, $11,316 and $10,474 in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Research, Development and Engineering Costs	Research, Development and Engineering Research, development and engineering costs are expensed as incurred and were $92,315, $85,881 and $78,108 in 2013, 2012 and 2011, respectively.
Shipping and Handling Costs	The Company recognizes shipping and handling fees billed when products are shipped or delivered to a customer and includes such amounts in net sales. Third-party freight payments are recorded in cost of sales.
Taxes on Income	Deferred taxes are provided on an asset and liability method, whereby deferred tax assets are recognized for deductible temporary differences, operating loss carry-forwards and tax credits. Deferred tax liabilities are recognized for taxable temporary differences and undistributed earnings in certain tax jurisdictions. Deferred tax assets are reduced by a valuation allowance when, based on available evidence, it is more likely than not that some portion or all of the deferred tax assets will not be realized. Determination of a valuation allowance involves estimates regarding the timing and amount of the reversal of taxable temporary differences, expected future taxable income and the impact of tax planning strategies. Deferred tax assets and liabilities are adjusted for the effects of changes in tax laws and rates on the date of enactment. The Company regularly assesses its position with regard to tax exposures and records liabilities for these uncertain tax positions and related interest and penalties, if any, when the tax benefit is not more likely than not realizable. The Company has recorded an accrual that reflects the recognition and measurement process for the financial statement recognition and measurement of a tax position taken or expected to be taken on a tax return. Additional future income tax expense or benefit may be recognized once the positions are effectively settled.
Sales Tax	The Company collects sales taxes from customers and accounts for sales taxes on a net basis.
Cash Equivalents	The Company considers highly liquid investments with original maturities of three months or less at the time of purchase to be cash equivalents.
Financial Instruments	The carrying amount of cash and cash equivalents, trade receivables and accounts payable, approximated their fair value because of the relatively short maturity of these instruments. The Company’s risk-management strategy uses derivative financial instruments such as forwards to hedge certain foreign currency exposures and interest rate swaps to manage interest rate risk. The intent is to offset gains and losses that occur on the underlying exposures, with gains and losses on the derivative contracts hedging these exposures. The Company does not enter into derivatives for trading purposes. The Company recognizes all derivatives on the balance sheet at fair value. Changes in the fair values of derivatives that are not designated as hedges are recognized in earnings. If the derivative is designated and qualifies as a hedge, depending on the nature of the hedge, changes in the fair value of the derivatives are either offset against the change in the hedged assets or liabilities through earnings or recognized in other comprehensive income until the hedged item is recognized in earnings.
Inventories	The Company primarily values inventories at the lower of cost or market applied on a first-in, first-out basis. The Company identifies and writes down its excess and obsolete inventories to net realizable value based on usage forecasts, order volume and inventory aging. With the development of new products, the Company also rationalizes its product offerings and will write-down discontinued product to the lower of cost or net realizable value.
Deferred Revenue	Deferred revenue is recorded for any services billed to customers and not yet recognizable if the contract period has commenced or for the amount collected from customers in advance of the contract period commencing. In addition, deferred revenue is recorded for products and other deliverables that are billed to and collected from customers prior to revenue being recognizable.
Split-Dollar Life Insurance	The Company recognizes a liability for the post-retirement obligation associated with a collateral assignment arrangement if, based on an agreement with an employee, the Company has agreed to maintain a life insurance policy during the post-retirement period or to provide a death benefit. In addition, the Company recognizes a liability and related compensation costs for future benefits that extend to post-retirement periods.
Goodwill	Goodwill is the cost in excess of the net assets of acquired businesses (refer to note 10). The Company tests all existing goodwill at least annually as of November 30 for impairment on a reporting unit basis. The Company tests for impairment between annual tests if an event occurs or circumstances change that would more likely than not reduce the carrying value of a reporting unit below its reported amount. The Company’s reporting units are defined as Domestic and Canada, LA, Brazil, AP, and EMEA. Each year, the Company may elect to perform a qualitative assessment to determine whether it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value. In evaluating whether it is more likely than not the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying amount, the Company considers the following events and circumstances, among others, if applicable: (a) macroeconomic conditions such as general economic conditions, limitations on accessing capital or other developments in equity and credit markets; (b) industry and market considerations such as competition, multiples or metrics and changes in the market for the Company's products and services or regulatory and political environments; (c) cost factors such as raw materials, labor or other costs; (d) overall financial performance such as cash flows, actual and planned revenue and earnings compared with actual and projected results of relevant prior periods; (e) other relevant events such as changes in key personnel, strategy or customers; (f) changes in the composition of a reporting unit's assets or expected sales of all or a portion of a reporting unit; and (g) any sustained decrease in share price. If the Company's qualitative assessment indicates that it is more likely than not that the fair value of a reporting unit is less than its carrying value, or if management elects to perform a quantitative assessment of goodwill, a two-step impairment test is used to identify potential goodwill impairment and measure the amount of any impairment loss to be recognized. In the first step, the Company compares the fair value of each reporting unit with its carrying value. The fair value is determined based upon discounted estimated future cash flows as well as the market approach or guideline public company method. The Company’s Step 1 impairment test of goodwill of a reporting unit is based upon the fair value of the reporting unit, defined as the price that would be received to sell the net assets or transfer the net liabilities in an orderly transaction between market participants at the assessment date. In the event that the net carrying amount exceeds the fair value, a Step 2 test must be performed whereby the fair value of the reporting unit’s goodwill must be estimated to determine if it is less than its net carrying amount. In its two-step test, the Company uses the discounted cash flow method and the guideline company method for determining the fair value of its reporting units. Under these methods, the determination of implied fair value of the goodwill for a particular reporting unit is the excess of the fair value of a reporting unit over the amounts assigned to its assets and liabilities in the same manner as the allocation in a business combination. The techniques used in the Company's qualitative assessment and, if necessary, two-step impairment test have incorporated a number of assumptions that the Company believes to be reasonable and to reflect market conditions forecast at the assessment date. Assumptions in estimating future cash flows are subject to a high degree of judgment. The Company makes all efforts to forecast future cash flows as accurately as possible with the information available at the time the forecast is made. To this end, the Company evaluates the appropriateness of its assumptions as well as its overall forecasts by comparing projected results of upcoming years with actual results of preceding years and validating that differences therein are reasonable. Key assumptions, all of which are Level 3 inputs (refer to note 18), relate to price trends, material costs, discount rate, customer demand and the long-term growth and foreign exchange rates. A number of benchmarks from independent industry and other economic publications were also used. Changes in assumptions and estimates after the assessment date may lead to an outcome where impairment charges would be required in future periods. Specifically, actual results may vary from the Company’s forecasts and such variations may be material and unfavorable, thereby triggering the need for future impairment tests where the conclusions may differ in reflection of prevailing market conditions.
Long-Lived Assets	Impairment of long-lived assets is recognized when events or changes in circumstances indicate that the carrying amount of the asset may not be recoverable. If the expected future undiscounted cash flows are less than the carrying amount of the asset, an impairment loss is recognized at that time to reduce the asset to the lower of its fair value or its net book value.
Contingencies	Liabilities for loss contingencies arising from claims, assessments, litigation, fines, and penalties and other sources are recorded when it is probable that a liability has been incurred and the amount can be reasonably estimated. As additional information becomes available, any potential liability related to these matters is assessed and the estimates are revised, if necessary. Legal costs incurred in connection with loss contingencies are expensed as incurred.
Pension and Other Post-retirement Benefits	Annual net periodic expense and benefit liabilities under the Company’s defined benefit plans are determined on an actuarial basis. Assumptions used in the actuarial calculations have a significant impact on plan obligations and expense. Members of the management investment committee periodically review the actual experience compared with the more significant assumptions used and make adjustments to the assumptions, if warranted. The healthcare trend rates are reviewed based upon the results of actual claims experience. The discount rate is determined by analyzing the average return of high-quality (i.e., AA-rated) fixed-income investments and the year-over-year comparison of certain widely used benchmark indices as of the measurement date. The expected long-term rate of return on plan assets is determined using the plans’ current asset allocation and their expected rates of return based on a geometric averaging over 20 years. The rate of compensation increase assumptions reflects the Company’s long-term actual experience and future and near-term outlook. Pension benefits are funded through deposits with trustees. Other post-retirement benefits are not funded and the Company’s policy is to pay these benefits as they become due. The Company recognizes the funded status of each of its plans in the consolidated balance sheet. Amortization of unrecognized net gain or loss resulting from experience different from that assumed and from changes in assumptions (excluding asset gains and losses not yet reflected in market-related value) is included as a component of net periodic benefit cost for a year if, as of the beginning of the year, that unrecognized net gain or loss exceeds five percent of the greater of the projected benefit obligation or the market-related value of plan assets. If amortization is required, the amortization is that excess divided by the average remaining service period of participating employees expected to receive benefits under the plan.
Comprehensive Income	Items included in other comprehensive income primarily represent adjustments made for foreign currency translation,hedging activities (refer to note 16), pension and other post-retirement benefit plans (refer to note 12) and unrealized gains and losses on available-for-sale securities (refer to note 5).
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments	Foreign currency translation adjustments are not booked net of tax, with the exception of deferred taxes on undistributed foreign subsidiary previously taxed income. Foreign currency translation adjustments are accounted for under the indefinite reversal criterion of FASB ASC 740-30, Income Taxes — Other Considerations or Special Areas.
Share-based Compensation Policy	The Company recognizes costs resulting from all share-based payment transactions based on the fair market value of the award as of the grant date. Awards are valued at fair value and compensation cost is recognized on a straight-line basis over the requisite periods of each award. The Company estimated forfeiture rates are based on historical experience. To cover the exercise and/or vesting of its share-based payments, the Company generally issues new shares from its authorized, unissued share pool.
Loans and leases receivable	The Company records interest income and any fees or costs related to financing receivables using the effective interest method over the term of the lease or loan. The Company reviews the aging of its financing receivables to determine past due and delinquent accounts. Credit quality is reviewed at inception and is re-evaluated as needed based on customer specific circumstances. Receivable balances 60 days to 89 days past due are reviewed and may be placed on nonaccrual status based on customer-specific circumstances. Receivable balances are placed on nonaccrual status upon reaching greater than 89 days past due. Upon receipt of payment on nonaccrual financing receivables, interest income is recognized and accrual of interest is resumed once the account has been made current or the specific circumstances have been resolved.