Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share Under Guidance of ASC 260 (Detail) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015		Mar. 31, 2014
Basic EPS:
Net income attributable to TSYS common shareholders	$ 77,755		$ 49,303
Basic EPS (a)/(b)	$ 0.42	[1]	$ 0.26	[1]
Diluted EPS:
Net income attributable to TSYS common shareholders	77,755		49,303
Diluted EPS (c)/(d)	$ 0.42	[1]	$ 0.26	[1]
Common Stock
Basic EPS:
Net income attributable to TSYS common shareholders	77,755		49,303
Less income allocated to nonvested awards	(712)		(516)
Net income allocated to common stock for EPS calculation (a)	77,043		48,787
Average common shares outstanding (b)	182,772		185,763
Basic EPS (a)/(b)	$ 0.42		$ 0.26
Diluted EPS:
Net income attributable to TSYS common shareholders	77,755		49,303
Less income allocated to nonvested awards	(709)		(512)
Net income allocated to common stock for EPS calculation (c)	77,046		48,791
Average common shares outstanding	182,772		185,763
Increase due to assumed issuance of shares related to common equivalent shares outstanding	1,082		2,632
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding (d)	183,854		188,395
Diluted EPS (c)/(d)	$ 0.42		$ 0.26
Participating Securities
Basic EPS:
Less income allocated to nonvested awards	712		516
Net income allocated to common stock for EPS calculation (a)	712		516
Average common shares outstanding (b)	1,709		1,989
Basic EPS (a)/(b)	$ 0.42		$ 0.26
Diluted EPS:
Less income allocated to nonvested awards	709		512
Net income allocated to common stock for EPS calculation (c)	$ 709		$ 512
Average common shares outstanding	1,709		1,989
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding (d)	1,709		1,989
Diluted EPS (c)/(d)	$ 0.42		$ 0.26

[1] EPS amounts may not total due to rounding