Condensed Consolidated Statements of Comprehensive Income - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Statement of Comprehensive Income [Abstract]
Net income	$ 70,105	$ 93,876	$ 190,929	$ 335,445
Less: Preferred stock dividends attributable to noncontrolling interests	4,593	4,594	13,781	13,781
Net income attributable to Pitney Bowes Inc.	65,512	89,282	177,148	321,664
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax:
Foreign currency translations	6,938	(17,131)	37,263	(76,153)
Net unrealized (loss) gain on cash flow hedges, net of tax of $(40), $79, $224 and $219, respectively	(64)	119	358	335
Net unrealized gain (loss) on investment securities, net of tax of $956, $721, $4,399 and $(142), respectively	1,628	1,231	7,491	(242)
Adjustments to pension and postretirement plans, net of tax of $(777) for the nine months ended September 30, 2016	0	0	(1,230)	0
Amortization of pension and postretirement costs, net of tax of $3,243, $4,219, $10,362 and $12,001, respectively	5,963	7,435	18,791	21,364
Other comprehensive income (loss), net of tax	14,465	(8,346)	62,673	(54,696)
Comprehensive income attributable to Pitney Bowes Inc.	$ 79,977	$ 80,936	$ 239,821	$ 266,968