Quarterly Financial Data (unaudited) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015		Sep. 30, 2015		Jun. 30, 2015		Mar. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014		Sep. 30, 2014		Jun. 30, 2014		Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Selected Quarterly Financial Information [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 936,947		$ 869,541		$ 880,891		$ 890,681		$ 983,913		$ 941,644		$ 958,450		$ 937,497		$ 3,578,060		$ 3,821,504		$ 3,791,335
Cost of revenues	406,679		376,205		385,182		390,525		426,222		421,544		423,159		409,866		1,558,591		1,680,791
Operating expenses	401,044		356,784		286,256		364,560		461,011		378,563		396,814		473,129		1,408,644		1,709,517
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	129,224		136,552		209,453		135,596		96,680		141,537		138,477		54,502		610,825		431,196		383,954
Provision for income taxes	44,204		42,676		52,351		50,547		33,134		25,310		46,335		8,036		189,778		112,815		77,967
Income from continuing operations	85,020		93,876		157,102		85,049		63,546		116,227		92,142		46,466		421,047		318,381		305,987
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	5,853		0		(739)		157		3,576		20,655		6,717		2,801		5,271		33,749		(144,777)
Net income	90,873		93,876		156,363		85,206		67,122		136,882		98,859		49,267		426,318		352,130		161,210
Less: Preferred stock dividends of subsidiaries attributable to noncontrolling interests	4,594		4,594		4,593		4,594		4,594		4,593		4,594		4,594		18,375		18,375		18,375
Net income - Pitney Bowes Inc.	86,279		89,282		151,770		80,612		62,528		132,289		94,265		44,673		407,943		333,755		142,835
Amounts attributable to common stockholders:
Net income from continuing operations	80,426		89,282		152,509		80,455		58,952		111,634		87,548		41,872		402,672		300,006		287,612
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	5,853		0		(739)		157		3,576		20,655		6,717		2,801		5,271		33,749		(144,777)
Net income - Pitney Bowes Inc.	$ 86,279		$ 89,282		$ 151,770		$ 80,612		$ 62,528		$ 132,289		$ 94,265		$ 44,673		$ 407,943		$ 333,755		$ 142,835
Basic earnings per share attributable to common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.40	[1]	$ 0.45	[1]	$ 0.76	[1]	$ 0.40	[1]	$ 0.29	[1]	$ 0.55	[1]	$ 0.43	[1]	$ 0.21	[1]	$ 2.01	[1],[2]	$ 1.49	[1],[2]	$ 1.43	[2]
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.03	[1]	0.00	[1]	0.00	[1]	0.00	[1]	0.02	[1]	0.10	[1]	0.03	[1]	0.01	[1]	0.03	[1],[2]	0.17	[1],[2]	(0.72)	[2]
Net income - Pitney Bowes Inc. (in dollars per share)	0.43	[1]	0.45	[1]	0.75	[1]	0.40	[1]	0.31	[1]	0.65	[1]	0.47	[1]	0.22	[1]	2.04	[1],[2]	1.65	[1],[2]	0.71	[2]
Diluted earnings per share attributable to common stockholders:
Continuing operations (in dollars per share)	0.41	[1]	0.44	[1]	0.75	[1]	0.40	[1]	0.29	[1]	0.55	[1]	0.43	[1]	0.21	[1]	2.00	[1],[2]	1.47	[1],[2]	1.42	[2]
Discontinued operations (in dollars per share)	0.03	[1]	0.00	[1]	0.00	[1]	0.00	[1]	0.02	[1]	0.10	[1]	0.03	[1]	0.01	[1]	0.03	[1],[2]	0.17	[1],[2]	(0.71)	[2]
Net income - Pitney Bowes Inc. (in dollars per share)	$ 0.44	[1]	$ 0.44	[1]	$ 0.75	[1]	$ 0.40	[1]	$ 0.31	[1]	$ 0.65	[1]	$ 0.46	[1]	$ 0.22	[1]	$ 2.03	[1],[2]	$ 1.64	[1],[2]	$ 0.70	[2]

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

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