Comprehensive Income (Details) (USD $) In Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Comprehensive Income Note (Detail) [Abstract]
Pitney Bowes Inc. net income	$ 172,767	$ 88,935	$ 360,006	$ 229,355
Other comprehensive income, net of tax:
Foreign currency translation adjustments	(111,317)	124,539	(35,336)	(16,432)
Net unrealized gain on derivatives	1,209	(648)	1,596	853
Net unrealized gain (loss) on investment securities	3,147	345	4,258	2,427
Amortization of pension and postretirement costs	8,692	7,064	25,857	21,064
Comprehensive (loss) income	$ 74,498	$ 220,235	$ 356,381	$ 237,267

The change in equity [net assets] of a business enterprise during a period from transactions and other events and circumstances from non-owner sources which are attributable to the reporting entity. It includes all changes in equity during a period except those resulting from investments by owners and distributions to owners, but excludes any and all transactions which are directly or indirectly attributable to that ownership interest in subsidiary equity which is not attributable to the parent.

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The portion of profit or loss for the period, net of income taxes, which is attributable to the parent.

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- Definition

Adjustment that results from the process of translating subsidiary financial statements and foreign equity investments into the reporting currency of the reporting entity, net of tax.

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Change in accumulated gains and losses from derivative instrument designated and qualifying as the effective portion of cash flow hedges, net of tax effect. The after tax effect change includes an entity's share of an equity investee's Increase or Decrease in deferred hedging gains or losses.

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Appreciation or loss in value (before reclassification adjustment) of the total of unsold securities during the period being reported on, net of tax. Reclassification adjustments include: (1) the unrealized holding gain (loss), net of tax, at the date of the transfer for a debt security from the held-to-maturity category transferred into the available-for-sale category. Also includes the unrealized gain (loss) at the date of transfer for a debt security from the available-for-sale category transferred into the held-to-maturity category; (2) the unrealized gains (losses) realized upon the sale of securities, after tax; and (3) the unrealized gains (losses) realized upon the write-down of securities, after tax.

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