Long-term Debt (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notional Amount Of Derivatives	$ 850,000,000
Proceeds (payments) for settlement of derivative instruments	0	(31,774,000)
Debt Due 2012 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notional Amount Of Derivatives	400,000,000
Debt Instrument Interest Rate Stated Percentage	4.625%
Debt Instrument Face Amount	400,000,000
Debt Due 2014 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notional Amount Of Derivatives	450,000,000
Debt Instrument Interest Rate Stated Percentage	4.875%
Debt Instrument Face Amount	450,000,000
Debt Due 2014 [Member] \| Three Month L I B O R 305 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Notional Amount Of Derivatives	450,000,000
Debt Instrument Interest Rate Stated Percentage	4.875%
Debt Instrument Face Amount	$ 450,000,000

Proceeds from or payments for the settlement of derivative instruments.

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Namespace Prefix:	pbi
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The stated principal amount of the debt instrument at time of issuance, which may vary from the carrying amount because of unamortized premium or discount.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 21

-Paragraph 16, 20

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 45

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 835

-SubTopic 30

-Section 55

-Paragraph 8

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6584090&loc=d3e28878-108400

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 02

-Paragraph 22

-Article 5

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
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Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Aggregate notional amount of all derivatives. The notional amount relates to a number of currency units, shares, bushels, pounds, or other units specified in a derivative instrument.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Glossary Notional Amount

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6519104

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant