UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CHANGES IN EQUITY - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Adjustment	Total Global Payments Shareholders’ Equity	Total Global Payments Shareholders’ Equity Adjustment	Number of Shares	Paid-in Capital	Retained Earnings	Retained Earnings Adjustment	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	249,245		232,800				232,800			16,445
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(30,361)		(29,731)						(29,731)	(630)
Stock issued under share-based compensation plans (shares)					609,000
Stock issued under share-based compensation plans	12,952		12,952			12,952
Common stock repurchased - share-based compensation plans (shares)					(88,000)
Common stock repurchased - share-based compensation plans	(11,606)		(11,606)			(11,606)
Share-based compensation expense	27,914		27,914			27,914
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	$ (26,239)									(26,239)
Repurchase of common stock (shares)	(1,808,398)				(1,808,000)
Repurchases of common stock	$ (229,995)		(229,995)			(138,362)	(91,633)
Cash dividends declared	(3,137)		(3,137)				(3,137)
Balance at end of period (shares) at Jun. 30, 2019					156,675,000
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2019	4,175,116		3,990,604			2,126,065	2,204,445		(339,906)	184,512
Balance at beginning of period (shares) at Mar. 31, 2019					157,130,000
Balance at beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2019	4,142,461		3,950,813			2,151,623	2,111,798		(312,608)	191,648
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	130,039		120,458				120,458			9,581
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(23,350)		(27,298)						(27,298)	3,948
Stock issued under share-based compensation plans (shares)					67,000
Stock issued under share-based compensation plans	5,104		5,104			5,104
Common stock repurchased - share-based compensation plans (shares)					(9,000)
Common stock repurchased - share-based compensation plans	(1,406)		(1,406)			(1,406)
Share-based compensation expense	16,497		16,497			16,497
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	$ (20,665)									(20,665)
Repurchase of common stock (shares)	(513,116)				(513,000)
Repurchases of common stock	$ (71,999)		(71,999)			(45,753)	(26,246)
Cash dividends declared	(1,565)		(1,565)				(1,565)
Balance at end of period (shares) at Jun. 30, 2019					156,675,000
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2019	4,175,116		3,990,604			2,126,065	2,204,445		(339,906)	184,512
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	$ (5,379)	27,855,747	$ (5,379)		25,833,307	2,333,011	$ (5,379)	(310,571)	199,242
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	190,050		180,903				180,903			9,147
Other comprehensive (loss) income	(149,834)		(148,575)						(148,575)	(1,259)
Stock issued under share-based compensation plans (shares)					1,339,000
Stock issued under share-based compensation plans	42,632		42,632			42,632
Common stock repurchased - share-based compensation plans (shares)					(226,000)
Common stock repurchased - share-based compensation plans	(41,721)		(41,721)			(41,721)
Share-based compensation expense	$ 62,805		62,805			62,805
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	(116,591)		(116,591)				(116,591)
Balance at end of period (shares) at Jun. 30, 2020					299,244,000
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2020	27,632,989		27,425,859			25,570,582	2,314,423		(459,146)	207,130
Balance at beginning of period (shares) at Mar. 31, 2020					299,010,000
Balance at beginning of period at Mar. 31, 2020	27,520,433		27,320,811			25,525,184	2,335,407		(539,780)	199,622
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	39,444		37,331				37,331			2,113
Other comprehensive (loss) income	86,029		80,634						80,634	5,395
Stock issued under share-based compensation plans (shares)					257,000
Stock issued under share-based compensation plans	14,349		14,349			14,349
Common stock repurchased - share-based compensation plans (shares)					(23,000)
Common stock repurchased - share-based compensation plans	(3,934)		(3,934)			(3,934)
Share-based compensation expense	$ 34,983		34,983			34,983
Repurchase of common stock (shares)	0
Cash dividends declared	$ (58,315)		(58,315)				(58,315)
Balance at end of period (shares) at Jun. 30, 2020					299,244,000
Balance at end of period at Jun. 30, 2020	$ 27,632,989		$ 27,425,859			$ 25,570,582	$ 2,314,423		$ (459,146)	$ 207,130