Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Revenue:
Equipment sales	$ 212,103	$ 221,475	$ 656,517	$ 706,027
Supplies	66,902	74,271	213,789	235,728
Software	93,476	113,224	302,377	318,305
Rentals	142,288	154,210	428,174	467,064
Financing	123,999	136,000	373,695	412,958
Support services	171,652	175,286	516,424	530,707
Business services	405,257	425,258	1,226,175	1,266,478
Total revenue	1,215,677	1,299,724	3,717,151	3,937,267
Cost and expenses:
Cost of equipment sales	105,556	97,559	309,190	316,697
Cost of supplies	20,694	22,611	65,428	74,365
Cost of software	22,784	23,431	68,281	73,541
Cost of rentals	25,182	35,819	87,257	107,834
Financing interest expense	19,604	21,430	61,385	66,915
Cost of support services	107,095	114,074	334,304	344,767
Cost of business services	315,830	326,415	948,359	985,232
Selling, general and administrative	400,862	427,412	1,203,653	1,286,739
Research and development	36,669	35,573	104,518	107,772
Restructuring charges and asset impairments	9,986	32,956	11,060	63,974
Goodwill, Impairment Loss	18,315	45,650	18,315	45,650
Other interest expense	27,541	28,932	87,261	86,006
Interest income	(2,057)	(1,265)	(5,793)	(4,702)
Other income, net	0	(10,718)	1,138	(10,718)
Total costs and expenses	1,108,061	1,199,879	3,294,356	3,544,072
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	107,616	99,845	422,795	393,195
Provision for income taxes	26,489	(17,087)	93,519	77,319
Income from continuing operations	81,127	116,932	329,276	315,876
Net income before attribution of noncontrolling interests	81,127	177,360	348,608	373,787
Less: Preferred stock dividends of subsidiaries attributable to noncontrolling interests	4,594	4,593	13,782	13,781
Net income - Pitney Bowes Inc.	76,533	172,767	334,826	360,006
Amounts attributable to common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations	76,533	112,339	315,494	302,095
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	0	60,428	19,332	57,911
Net income - Pitney Bowes Inc.	$ 76,533	$ 172,767	$ 334,826	$ 360,006
Continuing operations	$ 0.38	$ 0.56	$ 1.58	$ 1.49
Discontinued operations	$ 0.00	$ 0.30	$ 0.10	$ 0.29
Net income - Pitney Bowes Inc.	$ 0.38	$ 0.86	$ 1.67	$ 1.78
Diluted earnings per share attributable to common stockholders:
Continuing operations	$ 0.38	$ 0.56	$ 1.57	$ 1.48
Discontinued operations	$ 0.00	$ 0.30	$ 0.10	$ 0.28
Net income - Pitney Bowes Inc.	$ 0.38	$ 0.85	$ 1.66	$ 1.77