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, 2015	$ 516,466	$ 1,502	$ 350,823	$ 197,445	$ (31,001)	$ (3,755)	$ 1,452
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests and Tompkins Financial Corporation	59,471			59,340			131
Other comprehensive loss	(6,108)				(6,108)
Subtotal comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests and Tompkins Financial Corporation	53,363
Cash dividends	(26,603)			(26,603)
Net exercise of stock options	(806)	4	(810)
Common stock repurchased and returned to unissued status	(1,166)	(2)	(1,164)
Stock-based compensation expense	2,270		2,270
Shares issued for dividend reinvestment plan	3,201	4	3,197
Shares issued for employee stock ownership plan	1,938	3	1,935
Directors deferred compensation plan	0		296			(296)
Restricted stock activity	(835)	3	(838)
Shares issued for purchase acquisition	1,708	3	1,705
Dividend to noncontrolling interests	(131)						(131)
Balances at ending 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	52,622			52,494			128
Reclassification due to the adoption of ASU No. 2018-02	0			9,958	(9,958)
Other comprehensive loss	(4,229)				(4,229)
Subtotal comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests and Tompkins Financial Corporation	48,393
Cash dividends	(27,627)			(27,627)
Net exercise of stock options	(641)	2	(643)
Stock-based compensation expense	2,956		2,956
Shares issued for dividend reinvestment plan	2,872	4	2,868
Shares issued for employee stock ownership plan	2,296	3	2,293
Directors deferred compensation plan	0		441			(441)
Restricted stock activity	(1,294)	4	(1,298)
Partial repurchase of noncontrolling interest	(30)						(30)
Dividend to noncontrolling interests	(128)						(128)
Balances at ending 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	82,435			82,308			127
Other comprehensive loss	(11,934)				(11,934)
Subtotal comprehensive income attributable to noncontrolling interests and Tompkins Financial Corporation	70,501
Cash dividends	(29,634)
Cash dividends | Accounting Standards Update 2016-01				(29,634)
Net exercise of stock options	(540)	1	(541)
Common stock repurchased and returned to unissued status	(2,448)	(3)	(2,445)
Stock-based compensation expense	3,477		3,477
Shares issued for employee stock ownership plan	3,073	4	3,069
Directors deferred compensation plan	0	0	410			(410)
Restricted stock activity	(1,403)	3	(1,406)
Partial repurchase of noncontrolling interest	(10)						(10)
Dividend to noncontrolling interests	(127)						(127)
Balances at ending at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 620,871	$ 1,535	$ 366,595	$ 319,396	(63,165)	$ (4,902)	$ 1,412
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Adoption of ASU | Accounting Standards Update 2016-01					$ 65