Earnings per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012
Amounts attributable to common stockholders:
Net income from continuing operations	$ 76,677	$ 87,946	$ 222,115	$ 309,569
Income (loss) from discontinued operations	(82,204)	(11,413)	(169,369)	25,257
Net (loss) income - Pitney Bowes Inc. (numerator for diluted EPS)	(5,527)	76,533	52,746	334,826
Less: Preference stock dividend	(12)	(12)	(35)	(38)
(Loss) income attributable to common stockholders (numerator for basic EPS)	$ (5,539)	$ 76,521	$ 52,711	$ 334,788
Denominator (in thousands):
Weighted average shares used in basic EPS	201,827	200,593	201,490	200,266
Effect of dilutive shares:
Preferred stock	2	2	2	2
Preference stock	376	399	386	399
Stock plans	935	608	712	458
Weighted-average shares used in diluted EPS	203,140	201,602	202,590	201,125
Basic earnings per share:
Continuing operations	$ 0.38	$ 0.44	$ 1.10	$ 1.55
Discontinued operations	$ (0.41)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.84)	$ 0.13
Net (loss) income	$ (0.03)	$ 0.38	$ 0.26	$ 1.67
Diluted earnings per share:
Continuing operations	$ 0.38	$ 0.44	$ 1.10	$ 1.54
Discontinued operations	$ (0.40)	$ (0.06)	$ (0.84)	$ 0.13
Net (loss) income	$ (0.03)	$ 0.38	$ 0.26	$ 1.66
Anti-dilutive shares (in thousands):
Anti-dilutive shares not used in calculating diluted weighted-average shares	12,503	13,607	12,886	14,391