Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2014		Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Sep. 30, 2013		Jun. 30, 2013		Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Selected Quarterly Financial Information [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 983,913		$ 941,644		$ 958,450		$ 937,497		$ 1,010,821		$ 920,489		$ 950,662		$ 909,363		$ 3,821,504		$ 3,791,335		$ 3,823,713
Cost of revenues	426,222		421,544		423,159		409,866		451,781		394,861		411,499		392,481		1,680,791		1,650,622
Operating expenses	461,011		378,563		396,814		473,129		453,384		438,028		430,330		435,017		1,709,517		1,756,759
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	96,680		141,537		138,477		54,502		105,656		87,600		108,833		81,865		431,196		383,954		511,770
Provision for income taxes	33,134		25,310		46,335		8,036		25,922		10,032		24,218		17,795		112,815		77,967		114,287
Income from continuing operations	63,546		116,227		92,142		46,466		79,734		77,568		84,615		64,070		318,381		305,987		397,483
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	3,576		20,655		6,717		2,801		14,948		(78,501)		(89,254)		8,030		33,749		(144,777)		66,056
Net income	67,122		136,882		98,859		49,267		94,682		(933)		(4,639)		72,100		352,130		161,210		463,539
Less: Preferred stock dividends of subsidiaries attributable to noncontrolling interests	4,594		4,593		4,594		4,594		4,593		4,594		4,594		4,594		18,375		18,375		18,376
Net income - Pitney Bowes Inc.	62,528		132,289		94,265		44,673		90,089		(5,527)		(9,233)		67,506		333,755		142,835		445,163
Amounts attributable to common stockholders:
Net income from continuing operations	58,952		111,634		87,548		41,872		75,141		72,974		80,021		59,476		300,006		287,612		379,107
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	3,576		20,655		6,717		2,801		14,948		(78,501)		(89,254)		8,030		33,749		(144,777)		66,056
Net income - Pitney Bowes Inc.	$ 62,528		$ 132,289		$ 94,265		$ 44,673		$ 90,089		$ (5,527)		$ (9,233)		$ 67,506		$ 333,755		$ 142,835		$ 445,163
Basic earnings per share attributable to common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.29	[1]	$ 0.55	[1]	$ 0.43	[1]	$ 0.21	[1]	$ 0.37	[1]	$ 0.36	[1]	$ 0.40	[1]	$ 0.30	[1]	$ 1.49	[1]	$ 1.43	[1]	$ 1.89	[1]
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.02	[1]	$ 0.10	[1]	$ 0.03	[1]	$ 0.01	[1]	$ 0.07	[1]	$ (0.39)	[1]	$ (0.44)	[1]	$ 0.04	[1]	$ 0.17	[1]	$ (0.72)	[1]	$ 0.33	[1]
Net income - Pitney Bowes Inc. (in dollars per share)	$ 0.31	[1]	$ 0.65	[1]	$ 0.47	[1]	$ 0.22	[1]	$ 0.45	[1]	$ (0.03)	[1]	$ (0.05)	[1]	$ 0.34	[1]	$ 1.65	[1]	$ 0.71	[1]	$ 2.22	[1]
Diluted earnings per share attributable to common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.29	[1]	$ 0.55	[1]	$ 0.43	[1]	$ 0.21	[1]	$ 0.37	[1]	$ 0.36	[1]	$ 0.39	[1]	$ 0.29	[1]	$ 1.47	[1]	$ 1.42	[1]	$ 1.88	[1]
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.02	[1]	$ 0.10	[1]	$ 0.03	[1]	$ 0.01	[1]	$ 0.07	[1]	$ (0.39)	[1]	$ (0.44)	[1]	$ 0.04	[1]	$ 0.17	[1]	$ (0.71)	[1]	$ 0.33	[1]
Net income - Pitney Bowes Inc. (in dollars per share)	$ 0.31	[1]	$ 0.65	[1]	$ 0.46	[1]	$ 0.22	[1]	$ 0.44	[1]	$ (0.03)	[1]	$ (0.05)	[1]	$ 0.33	[1]	$ 1.64	[1]	$ 0.70	[1]	$ 2.21	[1]

[1] The sum of the earnings per share amounts may not equal the totals due to rounding.