Earnings per Share (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
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	3,576		20,655		6,717		2,801		14,948		(78,501)		(89,254)		8,030		33,749		(144,777)		66,056
Net income (numerator for diluted EPS)																	333,755		142,835		445,163
Less: Preference stock dividend																	44		46		51
Income attributable to common stockholders (numerator for basic EPS)																	$ 333,711		$ 142,789		$ 445,112
Weighted-average shares used in basic EPS (in shares)																	201,992		201,614		200,389
Preferred stock (in shares)																	1		2		2
Preference stock (in shares)																	344		381		398
Stock plans (in shares)																	1,624		960		577
Weighted-average shares used in diluted EPS (in shares)																	203,961		202,957		201,366
Basic earnings per share:
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:
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]
Anti-dilutive options excluded from diluted earnings per share (in shares)																	7,322		12,448		13,801

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