Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Apr. 23, 2020
Document and Entity Information
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Transition Report	false
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2020
Entity File Number	001-15749
Entity Registrant Name	ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORP
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	DE
Entity Tax Identification Number	31-1429215
Entity Address, Address Line One	3075 Loyalty Circle
Entity Address, City or Town	Columbus
Entity Address, State or Province	OH
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	43219
City Area Code	614
Local Phone Number	729-4000
Title of 12(b) Security	Common stock, par value $0.01 per share
Trading Symbol	ADS
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		47,627,962
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1
Entity Central Index Key	0001101215
Amendment Flag	false