Earnings per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2014
Amounts attributable to common stockholders:
Net income from continuing operations	$ 80,455	$ 41,872
(Loss) income from discontinued operations	157	2,801
Net income - Pitney Bowes Inc. (numerator for diluted EPS)	80,612	44,673
Less: Preference stock dividend	11	14
Income attributable to common stockholders (numerator for basic EPS)	$ 80,601	$ 44,659
Weighted-average shares used in basic EPS	201,337	202,339
Effect of dilutive shares:
Conversion of Preferred stock and Preference stock	334	352
Employee stock plans	1,008	1,194
Weighted-average shares used in diluted EPS	202,679	203,885
Basic earnings per share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.40	$ 0.21
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.01
Net income attributable to Pitney Bowes Inc. (in dollars per share)	$ 0.40	$ 0.22
Diluted earnings per share:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.40	$ 0.21
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.00	$ 0.01
Net income attributable to Pitney Bowes Inc. (in dollars per share)	$ 0.40	$ 0.22
Anti-dilutive shares not used in calculating diluted weighted-average shares (in thousands):	7,779	9,411