Commitments and Contingencies	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2018
Commitments and Contingencies Disclosure [Abstract]
Commitments and Contingencies	Commitments and Contingencies In the ordinary course of business, we are routinely defendants in, or party to, a number of pending and threatened legal actions. These may involve litigation by or against us relating to, among other things, contractual rights under vendor, insurance or other contracts; intellectual property or patent rights; equipment, service, payment or other disputes with clients; or disputes with employees. Some of these actions may be brought as a purported class action on behalf of a purported class of employees, clients or others. In management's opinion, it is not reasonably possible that the potential liability, if any, that may result from these actions, either individually or collectively, will have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. However, as litigation is inherently unpredictable, there can be no assurances in this regard. In August 2018, the Company, certain of its directors, officers and several banks who served as underwriters, were named as defendants in City of Livonia Retiree Health and Disability Benefits Plan v. Pitney Bowes Inc. et al., a putative class action lawsuit filed in Connecticut state court. The complaint asserts claims under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on behalf of those who purchased notes issued by the Company in connection with a September 13, 2017 offering, alleging, among other things, that the Company failed to make certain disclosures relating to components of its third quarter 2017 performance at the time of the notes offering. The complaint seeks compensatory damages and other relief. In addition, in December 2018 and then in February 2018, certain of the Company’s officers and directors were named as defendants in two virtually identical derivative actions purportedly brought on behalf of the Company, Clem v. Lautenbach et al. and Devolin v. Lautenbach et al. These two actions, both filed by the same counsel in Connecticut state court allege, among other things, breaches of fiduciary duty relating to these same disclosures, and seek compensatory damages and other relief derivatively for the benefit of the Company. Although litigation outcomes are inherently unpredictable, we believe these matters are without merit and intend to defend them vigorously. A reasonable estimate of the amount of any possible loss or range of loss cannot be made at this time.

Commitments and Contingencies

In the ordinary course of business, we are routinely defendants in, or party to, a number of pending and threatened legal actions. These may involve litigation by or against us relating to, among other things, contractual rights under vendor, insurance or other contracts; intellectual property or patent rights; equipment, service, payment or other disputes with clients; or disputes with employees. Some of these actions may be brought as a purported class action on behalf of a purported class of employees, clients or others. In management's opinion, it is not reasonably possible that the potential liability, if any, that may result from these actions, either individually or collectively, will have a material effect on our financial position, results of operations or cash flows. However, as litigation is inherently unpredictable, there can be no assurances in this regard.

In August 2018, the Company, certain of its directors, officers and several banks who served as underwriters, were named as defendants in City of Livonia Retiree Health and Disability Benefits Plan v. Pitney Bowes Inc. et al., a putative class action lawsuit filed in Connecticut state court. The complaint asserts claims under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on behalf of those who purchased notes issued by the Company in connection with a September 13, 2017 offering, alleging, among other things, that the Company failed to make certain disclosures relating to components of its third quarter 2017 performance at the time of the notes offering. The complaint seeks compensatory damages and other relief. In addition, in December 2018 and then in February 2018, certain of the Company’s officers and directors were named as defendants in two virtually identical derivative actions purportedly brought on behalf of the Company, Clem v. Lautenbach et al. and Devolin v. Lautenbach et al. These two actions, both filed by the same counsel in Connecticut state court allege, among other things, breaches of fiduciary duty relating to these same disclosures, and seek compensatory damages and other relief derivatively for the benefit of the Company. Although litigation outcomes are inherently unpredictable, we believe these matters are without merit and intend to defend them vigorously. A reasonable estimate of the amount of any possible loss or range of loss cannot be made at this time.