Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 424,789	$ 856,238
Short-term investments	36,238	12,971
Accounts receivable
Account receivables, gross	695,575	755,485
Allowance for doubtful accounts receivables	(28,355)	(31,855)
Accounts receivables, net	667,220	723,630
Finance receivables
Finance receivables	1,218,080	1,296,673
Allowance for credit losses	(26,368)	(45,583)
Finance receivables, net	1,191,712	1,251,090
Inventories	187,082	178,599
Current income taxes	22,044	102,556
Other current assets and prepayments	144,987	134,774
Total current assets	2,674,072	3,259,858
Property, plant and equipment, net	382,850	404,146
Rental property and equipment, net	249,310	258,711
Long-term finance receivables
Finance receivables	1,047,411	1,123,638
Allowance for credit losses	(18,235)	(17,847)
Finance receivables, net	1,029,176	1,105,791
Investment in leveraged leases	34,373	138,271
Goodwill	2,127,114	2,147,088
Intangible assets, net	175,995	212,603
Non-current income taxes	45,615	89,992
Other assets	555,661	530,644
Total assets	7,274,166	8,147,104
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	1,643,395	1,840,465
Current income taxes	220,236	242,972
Notes payable and current portion of long-term obligations	375,000	550,000
Advance billings	449,051	458,425
Total current liabilities	2,687,682	3,091,862
Deferred taxes on income	25,017	175,944
Tax uncertainties and other income tax liabilities	193,867	194,840
Long-term debt	3,305,504	3,683,909
Other non-current liabilities	641,093	743,165
Total liabilities	6,853,163	7,889,720
Noncontrolling interests (Preferred stockholders' equity in subsidiaries)	296,370	296,370
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	222,620	240,584
Retained earnings	4,709,761	4,600,217
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(625,868)	(661,645)
Treasury stock, at cost (123,130,405 and 123,586,842 shares, respectively)	(4,505,875)	(4,542,143)
Total Pitney Bowes Inc. stockholders' equity (deficit)	124,633	(38,986)
Total liabilities, noncontrolling interests and stockholders' equity (deficit)	$ 7,274,166	$ 8,147,104