Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Apr. 25, 2016
Document And Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	TOMPKINS FINANCIAL CORP
Entity Central Index Key	0001005817
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2016
Trading Symbol	TMP
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity a Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity a Voluntary Filer	No
Entity's Reporting Status Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		15,024,177
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2016