UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 1,671,952	$ 935,152	$ 3,575,550	$ 1,818,190
Operating expenses:
Cost of service	893,740	302,276	1,827,611	607,505
Selling, general and administrative	670,638	411,150	1,396,386	789,467
Total operating expenses	1,564,378	713,426	3,223,997	1,396,972
Operating income	107,574	221,726	351,553	421,218
Other income (expense):
Interest and other income	2,787	6,176	5,293	9,112
Interest and other expense	(82,855)	(65,616)	(175,499)	(124,697)
Total nonoperating income (expense)	(80,068)	(59,440)	(170,206)	(115,585)
Income before income taxes and equity in income of equity method investments	27,506	162,286	181,347	305,633
Income tax expense	(836)	(32,247)	(16,338)	(56,388)
Income before equity in income of equity method investments	26,670	130,039	165,009	249,245
Equity in income of equity method investments, net of tax	12,774	0	25,041	0
Net income	39,444	130,039	190,050	249,245
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of tax	(2,113)	(9,581)	(9,147)	(16,445)
Net income attributable to Global Payments	$ 37,331	$ 120,458	$ 180,903	$ 232,800
Earnings per share attributable to Global Payments:
Basic earnings per share (USD per share)	$ 0.12	$ 0.77	$ 0.60	$ 1.48
Diluted earnings per share (USD per share)	$ 0.12	$ 0.77	$ 0.60	$ 1.48