Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 915,553	$ 856,238
Short-term investments	35,863	12,971
Accounts receivable
Account receivables, gross	725,446	755,485
Allowance for doubtful accounts receivables	(31,117)	(31,855)
Accounts receivables, net	694,329	723,630
Finance receivables
Finance receivables	1,263,826	1,296,673
Allowance for credit losses	(39,124)	(45,583)
Finance receivables, net	1,224,702	1,251,090
Inventories	179,321	178,599
Current income taxes	116,247	102,556
Other current assets and prepayments	128,244	134,774
Total current assets	3,294,259	3,259,858
Property, plant and equipment, net	403,657	404,146
Rental property and equipment, net	261,388	258,711
Long-term finance receivables
Finance receivables	1,097,093	1,123,638
Allowance for credit losses	(15,278)	(17,847)
Finance receivables, net	1,081,815	1,105,791
Investment in leveraged leases	32,977	138,271
Goodwill	2,162,689	2,147,088
Intangible assets, net	201,891	212,603
Non-current income taxes	85,410	89,992
Other assets	538,172	530,644
Total assets	8,062,258	8,147,104
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	1,675,152	1,840,465
Current income taxes	295,283	242,972
Notes payable and current portion of long-term obligations	577,830	550,000
Advance billings	494,068	458,425
Total current liabilities	3,042,333	3,091,862
Deferred taxes on income	107,175	175,944
Tax uncertainties and other income tax liabilities	198,853	194,840
Long-term debt	3,682,798	3,683,909
Other non-current liabilities	643,686	743,165
Total liabilities	7,674,845	7,889,720
Noncontrolling interests (Preferred stockholders' equity in subsidiaries)	296,370	296,370
Commitments and contingencies (See Note 11)
Stockholders' equity (deficit):
Cumulative preferred stock, $50 par value, 4% convertible	4	4
Cumulative preference stock, no par value, $2.12 convertible	653	659
Common stock, $1 par value (480,000,000 shares authorized; 323,337,912 shares issued)	323,338	323,338
Additional paid-in capital	225,869	240,584
Retained earnings	4,683,949	4,600,217
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(617,106)	(661,645)
Treasury stock, at cost (123,130,405 and 123,586,842 shares, respectively)	(4,525,664)	(4,542,143)
Total Pitney Bowes Inc. stockholders' equity (deficit)	91,043	(38,986)
Total liabilities, noncontrolling interests and stockholders' equity (deficit)	$ 8,062,258	$ 8,147,104