<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?>
<xbrl
  xmlns="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance"
  xmlns:dei="http://xbrl.sec.gov/dei/2019-01-31"
  xmlns:link="http://www.xbrl.org/2003/linkbase"
  xmlns:pbi="http://www.pb.com/20200630"
  xmlns:us-gaap="http://fasb.org/us-gaap/2020-01-31"
  xmlns:xbrldi="http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi"
  xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">
    <link:schemaRef xlink:href="pbi-20200630.xsd" xlink:type="simple"/>
    <context id="D2020Q2Jun30_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_pbi_A6.70Notesdue2043Member">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0000078814</identifier>
            <segment>
                <xbrldi:explicitMember dimension="us-gaap:StatementClassOfStockAxis">pbi:A6.70Notesdue2043Member</xbrldi:explicitMember>
            </segment>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2020-06-30</startDate>
            <endDate>2020-06-30</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <context id="D2020Q2Jun30_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_us-gaap_CommonStockMember">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0000078814</identifier>
            <segment>
                <xbrldi:explicitMember dimension="us-gaap:StatementClassOfStockAxis">us-gaap:CommonStockMember</xbrldi:explicitMember>
            </segment>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2020-06-30</startDate>
            <endDate>2020-06-30</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <context id="D2020Q2Jun30">
        <entity>
            <identifier scheme="http://www.sec.gov/CIK">0000078814</identifier>
        </entity>
        <period>
            <startDate>2020-06-30</startDate>
            <endDate>2020-06-30</endDate>
        </period>
    </context>
    <dei:AmendmentFlag
      contextRef="D2020Q2Jun30"
      id="Fact-5F3FDF37ACDD53069DFE20744FD4DDC0-wk-Fact-5F3FDF37ACDD53069DFE20744FD4DDC0">false</dei:AmendmentFlag>
    <dei:EntityCentralIndexKey
      contextRef="D2020Q2Jun30"
      id="Fact-1608E9E18198514BB4A6A505459DF1D2-wk-Fact-1608E9E18198514BB4A6A505459DF1D2">0000078814</dei:EntityCentralIndexKey>
    <dei:DocumentType
      contextRef="D2020Q2Jun30"
      id="d4486e84-wk-Fact-68C77735B3A357148520E8366001BCEA">8-K</dei:DocumentType>
    <dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate
      contextRef="D2020Q2Jun30"
      id="d4486e102-wk-Fact-0E5047A18C4754F298B79E8D9DAECCAA">2020-06-30</dei:DocumentPeriodEndDate>
    <dei:EntityRegistrantName
      contextRef="D2020Q2Jun30"
      id="d4486e108-wk-Fact-3378C0A56A5A5F00812A7E7CD2383B7E">Pitney Bowes Inc</dei:EntityRegistrantName>
    <dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode
      contextRef="D2020Q2Jun30"
      id="d4486e129-wk-Fact-DF227DC72424531CB1312A41EB7C74D3">DE</dei:EntityIncorporationStateCountryCode>
    <dei:EntityFileNumber
      contextRef="D2020Q2Jun30"
      id="d4486e134-wk-Fact-D522C6F82D9059B6B65B30C4555E8ED5">1-3579</dei:EntityFileNumber>
    <dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber
      contextRef="D2020Q2Jun30"
      id="d4486e139-wk-Fact-A16EDB8CE30D5751B60E5AFD3927BAA3">06-0495050</dei:EntityTaxIdentificationNumber>
    <dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1
      contextRef="D2020Q2Jun30"
      id="d4486e181-wk-Fact-8C3C61B6E72754A5BEA1A42C8AC60F21">3001 Summer Street,</dei:EntityAddressAddressLine1>
    <dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown
      contextRef="D2020Q2Jun30"
      id="d4486e191-wk-Fact-BDE7968AF4885417A5519B67B0BD53BC">Stamford,</dei:EntityAddressCityOrTown>
    <dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince
      contextRef="D2020Q2Jun30"
      id="d4486e196-wk-Fact-33772BEB259552E9BF72295246E6E281">CT</dei:EntityAddressStateOrProvince>
    <dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode
      contextRef="D2020Q2Jun30"
      id="d4486e201-wk-Fact-D7B257797AB157D3954FAFD8D9493418">06926</dei:EntityAddressPostalZipCode>
    <dei:CityAreaCode
      contextRef="D2020Q2Jun30"
      id="d4486e217-wk-Fact-C976BCFA3CC65A1B8410A4D29F944FAF">(203)</dei:CityAreaCode>
    <dei:LocalPhoneNumber
      contextRef="D2020Q2Jun30"
      id="d4486e222-wk-Fact-33258B45B8A856F5919CB7DD5C80D33E">356-5000</dei:LocalPhoneNumber>
    <dei:WrittenCommunications
      contextRef="D2020Q2Jun30"
      id="d4486e257-wk-Fact-39E4CEB8003558FA880938DDB4161953">false</dei:WrittenCommunications>
    <dei:SolicitingMaterial
      contextRef="D2020Q2Jun30"
      id="d4486e262-wk-Fact-2AA92C868EC655ED908ECEE7781951C3">false</dei:SolicitingMaterial>
    <dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer
      contextRef="D2020Q2Jun30"
      id="d4486e269-wk-Fact-2525EE84F30D5A58AFD7DC746AB12681">false</dei:PreCommencementTenderOffer>
    <dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer
      contextRef="D2020Q2Jun30"
      id="d4486e274-wk-Fact-FB4BF063C603508192AF017368E7CF83">false</dei:PreCommencementIssuerTenderOffer>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="D2020Q2Jun30_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_us-gaap_CommonStockMember"
      id="d4486e327-wk-Fact-94B611A73EC65298803BAAB21E8C0320">Common Stock, $1 par value per share</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="D2020Q2Jun30_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_us-gaap_CommonStockMember"
      id="d4486e337-wk-Fact-D45F0E6EC4C75D00854E47040919C000">PBI</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="D2020Q2Jun30_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_us-gaap_CommonStockMember"
      id="d4486e347-wk-Fact-ED520BCFA90B54EB806151FF7359FD2D">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:Security12bTitle
      contextRef="D2020Q2Jun30_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_pbi_A6.70Notesdue2043Member"
      id="d4486e353-wk-Fact-5E5D9CE07E3D5B65A3AAD276A202EE75">6.70% Notes due 2043</dei:Security12bTitle>
    <dei:TradingSymbol
      contextRef="D2020Q2Jun30_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_pbi_A6.70Notesdue2043Member"
      id="d4486e363-wk-Fact-B0DA85E423EA58F682B0BFEBF0C029A2">PBI.PRB</dei:TradingSymbol>
    <dei:SecurityExchangeName
      contextRef="D2020Q2Jun30_us-gaap_StatementClassOfStockAxis_pbi_A6.70Notesdue2043Member"
      id="d4486e373-wk-Fact-10CAA2271BD557AB9590E832D193D5CC">NYSE</dei:SecurityExchangeName>
    <dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany
      contextRef="D2020Q2Jun30"
      id="d4486e378-wk-Fact-FCE9967D65A0529586F0F7339C5C4CB7">false</dei:EntityEmergingGrowthCompany>
</xbrl>
