Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Revenue	$ 947,140	$ 832,856	$ 861,436	$ 880,948	$ 916,406	$ 733,273	$ 730,413	$ 743,180	$ 3,522,380	$ 3,123,272	$ 2,981,323
Interest expense									(110,900)	(113,497)	(88,970)
Total before tax									212,361
Tax (benefit) provision	8,362	1,976	(6,458)	(16,263)	38,147	(10,828)	(790)	(27,082)	(12,383)	(553)	(106,975)
Net income - Pitney Bowes Inc.	44,985	$ 76,953	$ 48,214	53,513	89,948	$ 57,358	$ 48,901	65,133	223,665	261,340	92,805
Selling, general and administrative									(1,123,116)	(1,170,905)	(1,140,100)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balance				188,561				(103,660)	188,561	(103,660)	178,721
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications									(104,043)	119,446	(77,619)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)									(64,023)	(28,514)	(26,121)
Net other comprehensive income (loss)									(40,020)	147,960	(51,498)
Cumulative effect of accounting changes	(12,207)								(12,207)
Balance	239,472				188,561				239,472	188,561	(103,660)
Cash flow hedges
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balance				(406)				(1,485)	(406)	(1,485)	(3,912)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications									(763)	(288)	1,095
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)									(1,447)	(1,367)	(1,332)
Net other comprehensive income (loss)									684	1,079	2,427
Cumulative effect of accounting changes					(87)					(87)
Restated balance at December 31, 2017					(493)					(493)
Balance	191				(406)				191	(406)	(1,485)
Available-for-sale securities
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balance				1,597				120	1,597	120	536
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications									(2,579)	1,158	(1,109)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)									2,423	(319)	(693)
Net other comprehensive income (loss)									(5,002)	1,477	(416)
Cumulative effect of accounting changes					344					344
Restated balance at December 31, 2017					1,941					1,941
Balance	(3,061)				1,597				(3,061)	1,597	120
Pension and postretirement benefit plans
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balance				(748,800)				(787,813)	(748,800)	(787,813)	(738,768)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications									(46,170)	12,185	(73,141)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)									(64,999)	(26,828)	(24,096)
Net other comprehensive income (loss)									18,829	39,013	(49,045)
Cumulative effect of accounting changes					(116,490)					(116,490)
Restated balance at December 31, 2017					(865,290)					(865,290)
Balance	(846,461)				(748,800)				(846,461)	(748,800)	(787,813)
Foreign currency adjustments
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balance				(44,564)				(150,955)	(44,564)	(150,955)	(146,491)
Other comprehensive income (loss) before reclassifications									(54,531)	106,391	(4,464)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income (loss)									0	0	0
Net other comprehensive income (loss)									(54,531)	106,391	(4,464)
Cumulative effect of accounting changes					0					0
Restated balance at December 31, 2017					(44,564)					(44,564)
Balance	(99,095)				(44,564)				(99,095)	(44,564)	(150,955)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)
Balance				$ (792,173)				$ (940,133)	(792,173)	(940,133)	(888,635)
Cumulative effect of accounting changes	(116,233)				(116,233)				(116,233)	(116,233)
Restated balance at December 31, 2017					(908,406)					(908,406)
Balance	$ (948,426)				$ (792,173)				(948,426)	(792,173)	(940,133)
Amounts Reclassified from AOCI | Cash flow hedges
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Revenue									11	(179)	68
Cost of sales									51	(32)	(222)
Interest expense									(1,183)	(2,028)	(2,028)
Loss on extinguishment of debt									(1,267)	0	0
Total before tax									(2,388)	(2,239)	(2,182)
Tax (benefit) provision									(941)	(872)	(850)
Net income - Pitney Bowes Inc.									(1,447)	(1,367)	(1,332)
Amounts Reclassified from AOCI | Available-for-sale securities
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Interest expense									3,244	(520)	(1,126)
Tax (benefit) provision									821	(201)	(433)
Net income - Pitney Bowes Inc.									2,423	(319)	(693)
Amounts Reclassified from AOCI | Pension and postretirement benefit plans
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Total before tax									(21,675)	(13,936)	(14,430)
Tax (benefit) provision									(64,999)	(26,828)	(24,096)
Amounts Reclassified from AOCI | Transition asset
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Selling, general and administrative									7	8	8
Amounts Reclassified from AOCI | Prior service costs
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Selling, general and administrative									(173)	(166)	(164)
Amounts Reclassified from AOCI | Actuarial losses
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Selling, general and administrative									(41,610)	(40,606)	(38,370)
Amounts Reclassified from AOCI | Settlement
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Selling, general and administrative									(44,898)	0	0
Amounts Reclassified from AOCI | Total before tax
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Selling, general and administrative									$ (86,674)	$ (40,764)	$ (38,526)