Earnings per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010
Amounts attributable to common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations	$ 98,950	$ 95,284	$ 100,756	$ 140,942	$ 50,575	$ 154,311	$ 103,779	$ 91,891	$ 435,932	$ 400,556	$ 324,267
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	11,387	(18,751)	(1,133)	17,728	206,899	18,457	(2,844)	(5,588)	9,231	216,924	(31,888)
Net Income (numerator for diluted EPS)									445,163	617,480	292,379
Preferred Stock Dividends, Income Statement Impact									51	58	65
Income attributable to common stockholders (numerator for basic EPS)									$ 445,112	$ 617,422	$ 292,314
Denominator (in thousands):
Weighted average shares used in basic EPS									200,389	201,976	205,968
Effect of dilutive shares:
Preferred Stock									2	2	2
Preference stock									398	445	501
Stock Plans									577	343	282
Weighted-average shares used in diluted EPS									201,366	202,766	206,753
Earnings Per Share, Basic [Abstract]
Continuing operations	$ 0.49	$ 0.48	$ 0.50	$ 0.70	$ 0.25	$ 0.77	$ 0.51	$ 0.45	$ 2.18	$ 1.98	$ 1.57
Discontinued operations	$ 0.06	$ (0.09)	$ (0.01)	$ 0.09	$ 1.04	$ 0.09	$ (0.01)	$ (0.03)	$ 0.05	$ 1.07	$ (0.15)
Net income - Pitney Bowes Inc.	$ 0.55	$ 0.38	$ 0.50	$ 0.79	$ 1.29	$ 0.86	$ 0.50	$ 0.42	$ 2.22	$ 3.06	$ 1.42
Diluted earnings per share:
Continuing operations	$ 0.49	$ 0.47	$ 0.50	$ 0.70	$ 0.25	$ 0.76	$ 0.51	$ 0.45	$ 2.16	$ 1.98	$ 1.57
Discontinued operations	$ 0.06	$ (0.09)	$ (0.01)	$ 0.09	$ 1.03	$ 0.09	$ (0.01)	$ (0.03)	$ 0.05	$ 1.07	$ (0.15)
Net income - Pitney Bowes Inc.	$ 0.55	$ 0.38	$ 0.50	$ 0.79	$ 1.28	$ 0.85	$ 0.49	$ 0.42	$ 2.21	$ 3.05	$ 1.41
Anti-dilutive shares (in thousands):
Anti-dilutive shares not used in calculating diluted weighted-average shares									13,801	14,016	15,168