Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Preferred stock	Preference stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained earnings	Accumulated other comprehensive loss	Treasury stock
Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 205,176	$ 4	$ 591	$ 323,338	$ 196,977	$ 4,715,564	$ (574,556)	$ (4,456,742)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income - Pitney Bowes Inc.	333,755					333,755
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(271,600)						(271,600)
Cash dividends
Common	(151,567)					(151,567)
Preference	(44)					(44)
Issuances of common stock	1,616				(27,081)			28,697
Conversions to common stock	0	(3)	(43)		(970)			1,016
Stock-based compensation	17,446				17,446
Repurchase of common stock	(50,003)							(50,003)
Repurchase of subsidiary shares from noncontrolling interest	(7,520)				(7,520)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2014	77,259	1	548	323,338	178,852	4,897,708	(846,156)	(4,477,032)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income - Pitney Bowes Inc.	407,943					407,943
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(42,479)						(42,479)
Cash dividends
Common	(150,073)					(150,073)
Preference	(41)					(41)
Issuances of common stock	(3,218)				(37,705)			34,487
Conversions to common stock		0	(43)		(916)			959
Stock-based compensation	21,049				21,049
Repurchase of common stock	(131,719)							(131,719)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2015	178,721	1	505	323,338	161,280	5,155,537	(888,635)	(4,573,305)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income - Pitney Bowes Inc.	92,805					92,805
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(51,498)						(51,498)
Cash dividends
Common	(140,570)					(140,570)
Preference	(38)					(38)
Issuances of common stock	(970)				(27,856)			26,886
Conversions to common stock	0		(22)		(456)			478
Stock-based compensation	15,157				15,157
Repurchase of common stock	(197,267)							(197,267)
Balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ (103,660)	$ 1	$ 483	$ 323,338	$ 148,125	$ 5,107,734	$ (940,133)	$ (4,743,208)