Regulatory matters - Schedule of Bank's Capital Amounts and Ratios (Details) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2021 USD ($)
Consolidated
Common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets
Common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Amount	$ 308,211	$ 281,802
Common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Ratio	0.1113	0.1232
Common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Minimum For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	$ 124,569	$ 102,949
Common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Minimum For Capital Adequacy Purposes Ratio	0.0450	0.0450
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Amount	$ 308,211	$ 281,802
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Ratio	0.1113	0.1232
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Minimum For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	$ 166,093	$ 137,266
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Minimum For Capital Adequacy Purposes Ratio	0.0600	0.0600
Total capital to risk-weighted assets
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Amount	$ 335,683	$ 310,185
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Ratio	0.1213	0.1356
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, Minimum For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	$ 221,457	$ 183,021
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, Minimum For Capital Adequacy Purposes Ratio	0.0800	0.0800
Tier 1 capital to average assets
Tier 1 capital to average assets, Actual Amount	$ 308,211	$ 281,802
Tier 1 capital to average assets, Actual Ratio	0.0903	0.0916
Tier 1 capital to average assets, Minimum For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	$ 136,559	$ 123,013
Tier 1 capital to average assets, Minimum For Capital Adequacy Purposes Ratio	0.0400	0.0400
Peoples Bank
Common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets
Common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Amount	$ 339,596	$ 310,102
Common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Ratio	0.1227	0.1376
Common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Minimum For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	$ 124,563	$ 101,449
Common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Minimum For Capital Adequacy Purposes Ratio	0.0450	0.0450
Common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Minimum to be Well Capitalized under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount	$ 179,924	$ 146,538
Common equity Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Minimum to be Well Capitalized under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Ratio	0.0650	0.0650
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Amount	$ 339,596	$ 310,102
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Ratio	0.1227	0.1376
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Minimum For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	$ 166,083	$ 135,266
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Minimum For Capital Adequacy Purposes Ratio	0.0600	0.0600
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Minimum to be Well Capitalized under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount	$ 221,444	$ 180,355
Tier 1 capital to risk-weighted assets, Minimum to be Well Capitalized under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Ratio	0.0800	0.0800
Total capital to risk-weighted assets
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Amount	$ 367,068	$ 338,284
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, Actual Ratio	0.1326	0.1501
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, Minimum For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	$ 221,444	$ 180,355
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, Minimum For Capital Adequacy Purposes Ratio	0.0800	0.0800
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, Minimum to be Well Capitalized under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount	$ 276,806	$ 225,443
Total capital to risk-weighted assets, Minimum to be Well Capitalized under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Ratio	0.1000	0.1000
Tier 1 capital to average assets
Tier 1 capital to average assets, Actual Amount	$ 339,596	$ 310,102
Tier 1 capital to average assets, Actual Ratio	0.0969	0.0958
Tier 1 capital to average assets, Minimum For Capital Adequacy Purposes Amount	$ 140,167	$ 129,476
Tier 1 capital to average assets, Minimum For Capital Adequacy Purposes Ratio	0.0400	0.0400
Tier 1 capital to average assets, Minimum to be Well Capitalized under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Amount	$ 175,209	$ 161,845
Tier 1 capital to average assets, Minimum to be Well Capitalized under Prompt Corrective Action Provisions Ratio	0.0500	0.0500

No definition available.

Name:	pfis_CommonEquityTierOneLeverageCapitalAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	pfis_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Tier 1 Common Equity Risk Based Capital as defined in the regulations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pfis_TierOneCommonEquityRiskBasedCapital
Namespace Prefix:	pfis_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The minimum amount of Tier 1 Common Equity Risk Based Capital required for capital adequacy purposes under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pfis_TierOneCommonEquityRiskBasedCapitalRequiredForCapitalAdequacy
Namespace Prefix:	pfis_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The Tier One minimum Common Equity Capital Ratio ( Tier one Common Equity capital divided by risk-weighted assets) required for capital adequacy purposes under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pfis_TierOneCommonEquityRiskBasedCapitalRequiredForCapitalAdequacyToRiskWeightedAssets
Namespace Prefix:	pfis_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of Tier 1 Common Equity Risk Based Capital required to be categorized as well capitalized under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pfis_TierOneCommonEquityRiskBasedCapitalRequiredToBeWellCapitalized
Namespace Prefix:	pfis_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The Tier 1 Common Equity capital ratio (Tier 1 Common Equity capital divided by risk weighted assets) required to be categorized as "well capitalized" under the regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pfis_TierOneCommonEquityRiskBasedCapitalRequiredToBeWellCapitalizedToRiskWeightedAssets
Namespace Prefix:	pfis_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Tier 1 Common Equity capital divided by risk weighted assets as defined by regulations.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	pfis_TierOneCommonEquityRiskBasedCapitalToRiskWeightedAssets
Namespace Prefix:	pfis_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of total capital as defined by regulatory framework.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Capital
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of minimum total risk-based capital required for capital adequacy as defined by regulatory framework.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 505
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)(1)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117337116&loc=SL5958568-112826

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 505
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117337116&loc=SL5958570-112826

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalRequiredForCapitalAdequacy
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Ratio of minimum total risk-based capital to risk-weighted assets required for capital adequacy as defined by regulatory framework.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 505
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1B
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117337116&loc=SL5958570-112826

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 505
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (c)(1)
-URI https://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=117337116&loc=SL5958568-112826

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalRequiredForCapitalAdequacyToRiskWeightedAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of minimum total risk-based capital categorized as well capitalized as defined by regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalRequiredToBeWellCapitalized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Ratio of minimum total risk-based capital to risk-weighted assets categorized as well capitalized as defined by regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalRequiredToBeWellCapitalizedToRiskWeightedAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Ratio of total risk-based capital to risk-weighted assets as defined by regulatory framework.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_CapitalToRiskWeightedAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of Tier 1 leverage capital as defined by regulatory framework.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TierOneLeverageCapital
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TierOneLeverageCapitalAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of minimum Tier 1 leverage capital required for capital adequacy as defined by regulatory framework.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TierOneLeverageCapitalRequiredForCapitalAdequacy
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Ratio of minimum Tier 1 leverage capital to average assets required for capital adequacy as defined by regulatory framework.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TierOneLeverageCapitalRequiredForCapitalAdequacyToAverageAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of minimum Tier 1 leverage capital categorized as well capitalized as defined by regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TierOneLeverageCapitalRequiredToBeWellCapitalized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Ratio of minimum Tier 1 leverage capital to average assets categorized as well capitalized as defined by regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TierOneLeverageCapitalRequiredToBeWellCapitalizedToAverageAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Ratio of Tier 1 capital to average assets as defined by regulatory framework.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TierOneLeverageCapitalToAverageAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of Tier 1 risk-based capital as defined by regulatory framework.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TierOneRiskBasedCapital
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TierOneRiskBasedCapitalAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of minimum Tier 1 risk-based capital required for capital adequacy as defined by regulatory framework.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TierOneRiskBasedCapitalRequiredForCapitalAdequacy
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Ratio of minimum Tier 1 risk-based capital to risk-weighted assets required for capital adequacy as defined by regulatory framework.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TierOneRiskBasedCapitalRequiredForCapitalAdequacyToRiskWeightedAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of minimum Tier 1 risk-based capital categorized as well capitalized as defined by regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TierOneRiskBasedCapitalRequiredToBeWellCapitalized
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Ratio of minimum Tier 1 risk-based capital to risk-weighted assets categorized as well capitalized as defined by regulatory framework for prompt corrective action.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TierOneRiskBasedCapitalRequiredToBeWellCapitalizedToRiskWeightedAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Ratio of Tier 1 risk-based capital to risk-weighted assets as defined by regulatory framework.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_TierOneRiskBasedCapitalToRiskWeightedAssets
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis=srt_ConsolidatedEntityExcludingVariableInterestEntitiesVIEMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_ConsolidatedEntitiesAxis=srt_ParentCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: