Earnings per Share (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2011	Jun. 30, 2011	Mar. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Sep. 30, 2010	Jun. 30, 2010	Mar. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Amounts attributable to Pitney Bowes Inc.:
Income from continuing operations, net of tax	$ 49,226	$ 112,339	$ 101,570	$ 88,186	$ 72,796	$ 91,471	$ 64,047	$ 82,169	$ 351,321	$ 310,483	$ 431,554
Pitney Bowes Inc. net income	257,474	172,767	100,935	86,304	63,024	88,935	61,381	79,039	617,480	292,379	423,445
Less: Preference stock dividends									58	65	72
Income attributable to Pitney Bowes 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 securities:
Preferred stock									2	2	3
Preference stock									445	501	568
Stock options and stock purchase plans									343	282	17
Weighted average shares used in diluted EPS									202,766	206,753	207,322
Basic earnings per share:
Continuing operations	$ 0.25	$ 0.56	$ 0.50	$ 0.43	$ 0.36	$ 0.44	$ 0.31	$ 0.40	$ 1.74	$ 1.51	$ 2.09
(Loss) gain from discontinued operations	$ 1.04	$ 0.30	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)	$ (0.05)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.02)	$ 1.32	$ (0.09)	$ (0.04)
Net income	$ 1.29	$ 0.86	$ 0.50	$ 0.42	$ 0.31	$ 0.43	$ 0.30	$ 0.38	$ 3.06	$ 1.42	$ 2.05
Diluted earnings per share:
Income from continuing operations	$ 0.25	$ 0.56	$ 0.50	$ 0.43	$ 0.36	$ 0.44	$ 0.31	$ 0.40	$ 1.73	$ 1.50	$ 2.08
(Loss) gain from discontinued operations	$ 1.04	$ 0.30	$ 0.00	$ (0.01)	$ (0.05)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.01)	$ (0.02)	$ 1.31	$ (0.09)	$ (0.04)
Net income	$ 1.28	$ 0.85	$ 0.49	$ 0.42	$ 0.31	$ 0.43	$ 0.30	$ 0.38	$ 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