Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Revenue:
Equipment sales	$ 224,235	$ 242,921	$ 444,414	$ 484,552
Supplies	70,522	78,587	146,887	161,457
Software	104,551	105,516	208,901	205,081
Rentals	145,497	156,162	285,886	312,854
Financing	122,948	136,369	249,696	276,958
Support services	171,254	176,807	344,772	355,421
Business services	406,811	418,112	820,918	841,220
Total revenue	1,245,818	1,314,474	2,501,474	2,637,543
Cost and expenses:
Cost of equipment sales	106,718	104,385	203,634	219,138
Cost of supplies	20,863	25,562	44,734	51,754
Cost of software	24,404	24,898	45,497	50,110
Cost of rentals	31,850	36,109	62,075	72,016
Financing interest expense	20,642	22,192	41,781	45,485
Cost of support services	112,122	115,417	227,209	230,693
Cost of business services	313,553	325,250	632,529	658,817
Selling, general and administrative	391,606	432,715	802,791	859,326
Research and development	33,776	37,441	67,849	72,199
Restructuring charges and asset impairments	1,074	4,994	1,074	31,018
Other interest expense	30,353	28,550	59,720	57,074
Interest income	(2,003)	(2,215)	(3,736)	(3,437)
Other income, net	4,372	0	1,138	0
Total costs and expenses	1,089,330	1,155,298	2,186,295	2,344,193
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	156,488	159,176	315,179	293,350
Provision for income taxes	52,271	53,012	67,030	94,406
Income from continuing operations	104,217	106,164	248,149	198,944
Net income before attribution of noncontrolling interests	104,217	105,529	267,481	196,427
Less: Preferred stock dividends of subsidiaries attributable to noncontrolling interests	4,594	4,594	9,188	9,188
Net income - Pitney Bowes Inc.	99,623	100,935	258,293	187,239
Amounts attributable to common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations	99,623	101,570	238,961	189,756
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	0	(635)	19,332	(2,517)
Net income - Pitney Bowes Inc.	$ 99,623	$ 100,935	$ 258,293	$ 187,239
Continuing operations	$ 0.50	$ 0.50	$ 1.19	$ 0.93
Discontinued operations	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.10	$ (0.01)
Net income - Pitney Bowes Inc.	$ 0.50	$ 0.50	$ 1.29	$ 0.92
Diluted earnings per share attributable to common stockholders:
Continuing operations	$ 0.50	$ 0.50	$ 1.19	$ 0.93
Discontinued operations	$ 0.00	$ 0.00	$ 0.10	$ (0.01)
Net income - Pitney Bowes Inc.	$ 0.50	$ 0.49	$ 1.29	$ 0.92