CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN SHAREHOLDERS' EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive (Loss) Income	Treasury Stock	Non- controlling Interests
Balances at Beginning at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 549,405	$ 1,517	$ 357,414	$ 230,182	$ (37,109)	$ (4,051)	$ 1,452
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and Tompkins Financial Corporation	50,134			50,037			97
Other comprehensive income	4,394				4,394
Total Comprehensive Income	54,528
Cash dividends	(20,481)			(20,481)
Net exercise of stock options	(281)	1	(282)
Shares issued for dividend reinvestment plan	2,872	4	2,868
Stock-based compensation expense	2,120		2,120
Shares issued for employee stock ownership plan	2,296	3	2,293
Directors deferred compensation plan	0		297			(297)
Restricted stock activity	(561)	(1)	(560)
Partial repurchase of noncontrolling interest	(30)						(30)
Balances at Ending at Sep. 30, 2017	589,868	1,524	364,150	259,738	(32,715)	(4,348)	1,519
Balances at Beginning at Jun. 30, 2017					(33,624)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and Tompkins Financial Corporation	17,426
Other comprehensive income	909				909
Total Comprehensive Income	18,335
Balances at Ending at Sep. 30, 2017	589,868	1,524	364,150	259,738	(32,715)	(4,348)	1,519
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Cumulative effect of new accounting principle | Accounting Standards Update 2016-01	0			(65)	65
Cumulative effect of new accounting principle | Accounting Standards Update 2014-09	1,780			1,780
Balances at Beginning at Dec. 31, 2017	576,202	1,530	364,031	265,007	(51,296)	(4,492)	1,422
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and Tompkins Financial Corporation	63,493			63,397			96
Other comprehensive income	(23,706)				(23,706)
Total Comprehensive Income	39,787
Cash dividends	(21,998)			(21,998)
Net exercise of stock options	(501)	1	(502)
Stock-based compensation expense	2,511		2,511
Common stock repurchased and returned to unissued status	(1,206)	(2)	(1,204)
Shares issued for employee stock ownership plan	3,073	4	3,069
Directors deferred compensation plan	0		256			(256)
Restricted stock activity	(494)	(2)	(492)
Partial repurchase of noncontrolling interest	(10)						(10)
Balances at Ending at Sep. 30, 2018	599,144	1,531	367,669	308,121	(74,937)	(4,748)	1,508
Balances at Beginning at Jun. 30, 2018					(69,436)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and Tompkins Financial Corporation	20,934
Other comprehensive income	(5,501)				(5,501)
Total Comprehensive Income	15,433
Balances at Ending at Sep. 30, 2018	$ 599,144	$ 1,531	$ 367,669	$ 308,121	$ (74,937)	$ (4,748)	$ 1,508