Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Current assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 608,568	$ 913,276
Short-term investments	22,898	36,611
Accounts receivables, net	588,540	728,250
Finance receivable, net, current	1,132,518	1,188,292
Inventories	141,061	179,678
Current income taxes	30,578	51,836
Other current assets and prepayments	158,812	114,184
Assets held for sale	71,052	0
Total current assets	2,754,027	3,212,127
Property, plant and equipment, net	351,606	385,377
Rental property and equipment, net	230,759	241,192
Finance receivables, net, noncurrent	950,656	1,026,489
Investment in leveraged leases	33,606	34,546
Goodwill	2,012,752	2,136,138
Intangible assets, net	143,451	166,214
Non-current income taxes	93,318	94,434
Other assets	563,027	563,374
Total assets	7,133,202	7,859,891
Current liabilities:
Accounts payable and accrued liabilities	1,563,069	1,809,226
Current income taxes	208,063	240,681
Notes payable and current portion of long-term obligations	0	375,000
Advance billings	448,129	452,130
Liabilities held for sale	67,476	0
Total current liabilities	2,286,737	2,877,037
Deferred taxes on income	44,460	69,222
Tax uncertainties and other income tax liabilities	144,260	145,881
Long-term debt	3,654,032	3,642,375
Other non-current liabilities	685,002	718,375
Total liabilities	6,814,491	7,452,890
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	613	648
Common stock, $1 par value (480,000,000 shares authorized; 323,337,912 shares issued)	323,338	323,338
Additional paid-in capital	198,938	223,847
Retained earnings	4,689,969	4,744,802
Accumulated other comprehensive loss (income), ending balance	(723,523)	(681,213)
Treasury stock, at cost (123,130,405 and 123,586,842 shares, respectively)	(4,466,998)	(4,500,795)
Total Pitney Bowes Inc. stockholders' equity (deficit)	22,341	110,631
Total liabilities, noncontrolling interests and stockholders' equity (deficit)	$ 7,133,202	$ 7,859,891