Earnings Per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Sep. 30, 2012		Jun. 30, 2012		Mar. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
(Loss) income used in basic and diluted earnings per share:
(Loss) income from continuing operations, net of tax																	$ (181,605)		$ 76,728		$ 143,624
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax																	0		(3,125)		523
Net (loss) income attributable to Diebold, Incorporated	$ (41,434)		$ (21,690)		$ (105,035)		$ (13,446)		$ (11,858)	[1]	$ 16,221	[1]	$ 25,290	[1]	$ 43,950	[1]	$ (181,605)		$ 73,603		$ 144,147
Denominator (in thousands):
Weighted-average number of common shares used in basic earnings per share	63,928		63,825		63,700		63,311		63,230	[1]	63,211	[1]	63,064	[1]	62,725	[1]	63,659		63,061		64,244
Effect of dilutive shares (1)																	0	[2]	853	[2]	548	[2]
Weighted-average number of shares used in diluted earnings per share	63,928	[3]	63,825	[3]	63,700	[3]	63,311	[3]	63,230	[1],[3]	64,134	[1]	64,035	[1]	63,333	[1]	63,659		63,914		64,792
Basic earnings per share:
(Loss) income from continuing operations, net of tax	$ (0.65)		$ (0.34)		$ (1.65)		$ (0.21)		$ (0.14)	[1]	$ 0.26	[1]	$ 0.40	[1]	$ 0.70	[1]	$ (2.85)		$ 1.22		$ 2.23
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ (0.05)	[1]	$ 0.00	[1]	$ 0.00	[1]	$ 0.00	[1]	$ 0.00		$ (0.05)		$ 0.01
Net (loss) income attributable to Diebold, Incorporated	$ (0.65)		$ (0.34)		$ (1.65)		$ (0.21)		$ (0.19)	[1]	$ 0.26	[1]	$ 0.40	[1]	$ 0.70	[1]	$ (2.85)		$ 1.17		$ 2.24
Diluted earnings per share:
(Loss) income from continuing operations, net of tax	$ (0.65)		$ (0.34)		$ (1.65)		$ (0.21)		$ (0.14)	[1]	$ 0.25	[1]	$ 0.39	[1]	$ 0.69	[1]	$ (2.85)		$ 1.20		$ 2.21
(Loss) income from discontinued operations, net of tax	$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ 0.00		$ (0.05)	[1]	$ 0.00	[1]	$ 0.00	[1]	$ 0.00	[1]	$ 0.00		$ (0.05)		$ 0.01
Net (loss) income attributable to Diebold, Incorporated	$ (0.65)		$ (0.34)		$ (1.65)		$ (0.21)		$ (0.19)	[1]	$ 0.25	[1]	$ 0.39	[1]	$ 0.69	[1]	$ (2.85)		$ 1.15		$ 2.22
Anti-dilutive shares:
Anti-dilutive shares not used in calculating diluted weighted-average shares																	2,597		2,201		2,270
Incremental Shares, Excluded From Dilutive Calculation, Due To Resulting in Operating Loss	508		479		447		659		786								545

[1] prior-year amounts reflect the impact of the retrospective correction related to the Brazilian indirect taxes (refer to note 1)

[2] Incremental shares of 545 thousand were excluded from the computation of diluted EPS for the year ended December 31, 2013 because their effect is anti-dilutive due to the loss from continuing operations.

[3] incremental shares of 659 thousand, 447 thousand, 479 thousand and 508 thousand were excluded from the computation of diluted EPS for the first, second, third and fourth quarter of 2013 and 786 thousand were excluded from the computation of diluted EPS for the fourth quarter of 2012 because their effect is anti-dilutive due to the loss from continuing operations