Earnings Per Share - Participating Securities (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Basic EPS:
Nonvested awards (in shares)	182,279	183,741	181,842	183,484
Basic EPS	$ 0.78	$ 0.62	$ 1.56	$ 1.20
Diluted EPS:
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding(d)	183,575	185,287	183,457	185,122
Diluted EPS attributable to TSYS common shareholders (Note 11) (in dollars per share)	$ 0.78	$ 0.62	$ 1.55	$ 1.19
Participating Securities
Basic EPS:
Net income allocated to nonvested awards	$ 59	$ 252	$ 233	$ 631
Nonvested awards (in shares)	76	412	150	536
Basic EPS	$ 0.77	$ 0.61	$ 1.55	$ 1.18
Diluted EPS:
Net income allocated to nonvested awards	$ 59	$ 250	$ 232	$ 628
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding(d)	76	412	150	536
Diluted EPS attributable to TSYS common shareholders (Note 11) (in dollars per share)	$ 0.77	$ 0.61	$ 1.55	$ 1.17