Earnings Per Share - Participating Securities (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Basic EPS:
Nonvested awards (in shares)	181,395	183,220
Basic EPS	$ 0.78	$ 0.58
Diluted EPS:
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding(d)	183,298	184,938
Diluted EPS attributable to TSYS common shareholders (Note 11) (in dollars per share)	$ 0.77	$ 0.57
Participating Securities
Basic EPS:
Net income allocated to nonvested awards	$ 168	$ 373
Nonvested awards (in shares)	217	660
Basic EPS	$ 0.77	$ 0.57
Diluted EPS:
Net income allocated to nonvested awards	$ 168	$ 371
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding(d)	217	660
Diluted EPS attributable to TSYS common shareholders (Note 11) (in dollars per share)	$ 0.77	$ 0.56