Consolidated Statement of Income (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Revenue:
Equipment sales	$ 986,392	$ 1,022,563	$ 1,000,153
Supplies	307,974	318,430	336,239
Software	426,606	390,219	371,574
Rentals	563,505	600,759	647,432
Financing	602,754	637,948	694,444
Support services	706,505	711,519	714,429
Business services	1,684,238	1,743,816	1,804,900
Revenues	5,277,974	5,425,254	5,569,171
Cost and expenses:
Cost of equipment sales	449,479	469,158	450,197
Cost of supplies	97,454	97,172	93,660
Cost of software	99,107	93,391	88,020
Cost of rentals	125,325	141,465	158,881
Financing interest expense	87,698	88,292	97,586
Cost of support services	452,582	451,609	467,279
Cost of business services	1,303,594	1,337,236	1,382,401
Selling, general and administrative	1,731,858	1,760,677	1,800,714
Research and development	148,645	156,371	182,191
Restructuring charges and asset impairments	148,151	182,274	48,746
Goodwill impairment	130,150
Other interest expense	115,363	115,619	111,269
Interest income	(5,795)	(2,587)	(4,949)
Other income, net	(19,918)
Total costs and expenses	4,863,693	4,890,677	4,875,995
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	414,281	534,577	693,176
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	44,585	205,770	240,154
Income from continuing operations	369,696	328,807	453,022
(Loss) gain from discontinued operations	266,159	(18,104)	(8,109)
Net income before attribution of non-controlling interests	635,855	310,703	444,913
Less: Preferred stock dividends of subsidiaries attributable to noncontrolling interests	18,375	18,324	21,468
Pitney Bowes Inc. net income	617,480	292,379	423,445
Amounts attributable to Pitney Bowes Inc.:
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	351,321	310,483	431,554
(Loss) gain from discontinued operations	266,159	(18,104)	(8,109)
Net Income Loss	$ 617,480	$ 292,379	$ 423,445
Basic earnings per share attributable to Pitney Bowes Inc. common stockholders:
Continuing operations	$ 1.74	$ 1.51	$ 2.09
(Loss) gain from discontinued operations	$ 1.32	$ (0.09)	$ (0.04)
Net income	$ 3.06	$ 1.42	$ 2.05
Diluted earnings per share:
Income from continuing operations	$ 1.73	$ 1.50	$ 2.08
(Loss) gain from discontinued operations	$ 1.31	$ (0.09)	$ (0.04)
Net income	$ 3.05	$ 1.41	$ 2.04