Quarterly Financial Data (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
Summarized quarterly financial data [Abstract]
Total revenue	$ 1,340,707	$ 1,299,724	$ 1,314,474	$ 1,323,069	$ 1,434,042	$ 1,345,742	$ 1,297,237	$ 1,348,233	$ 5,277,974	$ 5,425,254	$ 5,569,171
Cost of Revenue	655,733	638,101	650,513	670,892	703,618	666,330	651,930	656,445
Selling, general and administrative	435,274	430,650	436,015	429,919	455,736	435,292	426,352	443,297	1,731,858	1,760,677	1,800,714
Research and development	40,873	35,573	37,441	34,758	38,884	38,454	38,168	40,865	148,645	156,371	182,191
Restructuring charges and asset impairments	84,177	32,956	4,994	26,024	79,235	33,805	48,512	20,722	148,151	182,274	48,746
Goodwill impairment	84,500	45,650							130,150
Other Operating Income (Expense), Net	19,064	16,949	26,335	27,302	28,711	28,917	28,508	26,896
Income from continuing operations before income taxes	21,086	99,845	159,176	134,174	127,858	142,944	103,767	160,008	414,281	534,577	693,176
Income Tax Expense (Benefit)	(32,734)	(17,087)	53,012	41,394	50,468	46,880	35,177	73,245	44,585	205,770	240,154
Income from continuing operations	53,820	116,932	106,164	92,780	77,390	96,064	68,590	86,763	369,696	328,807	453,022
(Loss) gain from discontinued operations	208,248	60,428	(635)	(1,882)	(9,772)	(2,536)	(2,666)	(3,130)	266,159	(18,104)	(8,109)
Net income before attribution of noncontrolling interests	262,068	177,360	105,529	90,898	67,618	93,528	65,924	83,633	635,855	310,703	444,913
Less: Preferred stock dividends of subsidiaries attributable to noncontrolling interests	4,594	4,593	4,594	4,594	4,594	4,593	4,543	4,594	18,375	18,324	21,468
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
Amounts Attributable To Pitney Bowes Inc. Common Stockholders [Abstract]
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
(Loss) gain from discontinued operations	208,248	60,428	(635)	(1,882)	(9,772)	(2,536)	(2,666)	(3,130)	266,159	(18,104)	(8,109)
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
Basic Earnings Per Share Of Common Stock Attributable To Pitney Bowes Inc. Common Stockholders (2) [Abstract]
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 Of Common Stock Attributable To Pitney Bowes Inc. Common Stockholders (2) [Abstract]
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
Allowance For Notes And Loans Receivable Roll Forward [Abstract]
Opening Balance				48,709					48,709
Closing Balance	45,583				48,709				45,583	48,709
Financing Receivable, Allowance for Credit Losses [Roll Forward]
Opening Balance											71,790
Additions									$ 28,054	$ 42,000	$ 61,755