Earnings per Share (Tables)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Earnings Per Share (Tables) [Abstract]

Earnings Per Share Basic and Diluted Computation

	2011		2010		2009
Numerator:
Amounts attributable to common stockholders:
Income from continuing operations	$	351,321	$	310,483	$	431,554
Gain (loss) from discontinued operations		266,159		(18,104)		(8,109)
Net income - Pitney Bowes Inc. (numerator for diluted EPS)		617,480		292,379		423,445
Less: Preference stock dividend		58		65		72
Income attributable to common stockholders (numerator for basic EPS)	$	617,422	$	292,314	$	423,373
Denominator (in thousands):
Weighted-average shares used in basic EPS		201,976		205,968		206,734
Effect of dilutive shares:
Preferred stock		2		2		3
Preference stock		445		501		568
Stock plans		343		282		17
Weighted-average shares used in diluted EPS		202,766		206,753		207,322
Basic earnings per share:
Continuing operations	$	1.74	$	1.51	$	2.09
Discontinued operations		1.32		(0.09)		(0.04)
Net income - Pitney Bowes Inc.	$	3.06	$	1.42	$	2.05
Diluted earnings per share:
Continuing operations	$	1.73	$	1.50	$	2.08
Discontinued operations		1.31		(0.09)		(0.04)
Net income - Pitney Bowes Inc.	$	3.05	$	1.41	$	2.04
Anti-dilutive shares (in thousands):
Anti-dilutive shares not used in calculating diluted weighted-average shares		14,016		15,168		18,319