UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 1,903,598	$ 883,039
Operating expenses:
Cost of service	933,871	305,230
Selling, general and administrative	725,748	378,317
Total operating expenses	1,659,619	683,547
Operating income	243,979	199,492
Other income (expense):
Interest and other income	2,506	2,934
Interest and other expense	(92,644)	(59,081)
Total nonoperating income (expense)	(90,138)	(56,147)
Income before income taxes and equity in income of equity method investments	153,841	143,345
Income tax expense	(15,502)	(24,140)
Income before equity in income of equity method investments	138,339	119,205
Equity in income of equity method investments, net of tax	12,269	0
Net income	150,608	119,205
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	(7,033)	(6,864)
Net income attributable to Global Payments	$ 143,575	$ 112,341
Earnings per share attributable to Global Payments:
Basic earnings per share (USD per share)	$ 0.48	$ 0.71
Diluted earnings per share (USD per share)	$ 0.48	$ 0.71