Document and Entity Information (USD $)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Feb. 15, 2011
Document And Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2011
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Registrant Name	PITNEY BOWES INC /DE/
Entity Central Index Key	0000078814
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	Yes
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Well Known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Public Float	$ 4,647,239,292
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2011
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q4
Entity Common Stock Shares Outstanding		199,787,708