UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Total Global Payments Shareholders’ Equity	Number of Shares	Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss	Noncontrolling Interests
Balance at beginning of period (shares) at Dec. 31, 2018			157,962,000
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 4,186,343	$ 3,991,407		$ 2,235,167	$ 2,066,415	$ (310,175)	$ 194,936
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	119,205	112,341			112,341		6,864
Other comprehensive loss	(7,013)	(2,433)				(2,433)	(4,580)
Stock issued under share-based compensation plans (shares)			542,000
Stock issued under share-based compensation plans	7,848	7,848		7,848
Common stock repurchased - share-based compensation plans (shares)			(79,000)
Common stock repurchased - share-based compensation plans	(10,200)	(10,200)		(10,200)
Share-based compensation expense	11,418	11,418		11,418
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	$ (5,572)						(5,572)
Repurchase of common stock (shares)	(1,295,282)		(1,295,000)
Repurchases of common stock	$ (157,997)	(157,997)		(92,610)	(65,387)
Cash dividends declared	(1,571)	(1,571)			(1,571)
Balance at end of period (shares) at Mar. 31, 2019			157,130,000
Balance at end of period at Mar. 31, 2019	4,142,461	3,950,813		2,151,623	2,111,798	(312,608)	191,648
Balance at beginning of period (shares) at Dec. 31, 2019			300,226,000
Balance at beginning of period at Dec. 31, 2019	28,054,989	27,855,747		25,833,307	2,333,011	(310,571)	199,242
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	150,608	143,575			143,575		7,033
Other comprehensive loss	(235,862)	(229,209)				(229,209)	(6,653)
Stock issued under share-based compensation plans (shares)			1,082,000
Stock issued under share-based compensation plans	28,283	28,283		28,283
Common stock repurchased - share-based compensation plans (shares)			(203,000)
Common stock repurchased - share-based compensation plans	(37,787)	(37,787)		(37,787)
Share-based compensation expense	$ 27,822	27,822		27,822
Repurchase of common stock (shares)	(2,094,731)		(2,095,000)
Repurchases of common stock	$ (403,962)	(403,962)		(326,441)	(77,521)
Cash dividends declared	(58,279)	(58,279)			(58,279)
Balance at end of period (shares) at Mar. 31, 2020			299,010,000
Balance at end of period at Mar. 31, 2020	$ 27,520,433	$ 27,320,811		$ 25,525,184	$ 2,335,407	$ (539,780)	$ 199,622