Condensed Consolidated Statements of Income (Loss) (Unaudited) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2013
Revenue:
Equipment sales	$ 191,518	$ 225,224	$ 380,574	$ 421,991
Supplies	76,284	71,275	155,801	144,493
Software	109,065	100,482	200,620	187,494
Rentals	122,443	129,404	246,022	258,518
Financing	107,644	112,820	217,694	226,707
Support services	158,190	160,303	316,442	322,892
Business services	193,306	151,154	378,794	297,930
Total revenue	958,450	950,662	1,895,947	1,860,025
Costs and expenses:
Cost of equipment sales	88,818	112,079	171,352	206,622
Cost of supplies	23,505	22,246	47,659	45,092
Cost of software	33,484	25,604	63,648	50,395
Cost of rentals	25,193	25,114	50,637	51,512
Financing interest expense	20,413	18,951	40,066	37,970
Cost of support services	96,722	99,337	195,703	201,866
Cost of business services	135,024	108,168	263,960	210,523
Selling, general and administrative	338,384	353,923	689,759	705,577
Research and development	28,649	27,331	54,841	56,582
Restructuring charges	8,299	19,031	18,140	19,031
Interest expense, net	21,482	30,045	45,546	59,036
Other expense	0	0	61,657	25,121
Total costs and expenses	819,973	841,829	1,702,968	1,669,327
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	138,477	108,833	192,979	190,698
Provision for income taxes	46,335	24,218	54,371	42,013
Income from continuing operations	92,142	84,615	138,608	148,685
Net income (loss)	98,859	(4,639)	148,126	67,461
Less: Preferred stock dividends attributable to noncontrolling interests	4,594	4,594	9,188	9,188
Net income (loss) attributable to Pitney Bowes Inc.	94,265	(9,233)	138,938	58,273
Amounts attributable to common stockholders:
Net income from continuing operations	87,548	80,021	129,420	139,497
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	6,717	(89,254)	9,518	(81,224)
Net income (loss) attributable to Pitney Bowes Inc.	$ 94,265	$ (9,233)	$ 138,938	$ 58,273
Basic earnings per share attributable to common stockholders:
Continuing operations	$ 0.43	$ 0.40	$ 0.64	$ 0.69
Discontinued operations	$ 0.03	$ (0.44)	$ 0.05	$ (0.40)
Net income (loss) attributable to Pitney Bowes Inc.	$ 0.47	$ (0.05)	$ 0.69	$ 0.29
Diluted earnings per share attributable to common stockholders:
Continuing operations	$ 0.43	$ 0.39	$ 0.63	$ 0.69
Discontinued operations	$ 0.03	$ (0.44)	$ 0.05	$ (0.40)
Net income (loss) attributable to Pitney Bowes Inc.	$ 0.46	$ (0.05)	$ 0.68	$ 0.29
Dividends declared per share of common stock	$ 0.1875	$ 0.1875	$ 0.375	$ 0.5625