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	354,974		327,842				327,842			27,132
Other comprehensive income	(127,244)		(117,892)						(117,892)	(9,352)
Stock issued under share-based compensation plans (shares)					750,000
Stock issued under share-based compensation plans	22,008		22,008			22,008
Common stock repurchased - share-based compensation plans (shares)					(268,000)
Common stock repurchased - share-based compensation plans	(41,190)		(41,190)			(41,190)
Share-based compensation expense	55,791		55,791			55,791
Issuance of common stock in connection with a business combination (shares)					143,909,000
Issuance of common stock in connection with a business combination	23,771,389		23,771,389			23,771,389
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	$ (31,632)									(31,632)
Repurchase of common stock (shares)	(1,808,398)				(1,808,000)
Repurchase of common stock	$ (229,994)		(229,994)			(138,361)	(91,633)
Dividends declared/ paid	(4,727)		(4,727)				(4,727)
Balance at end of period (shares) at Sep. 30, 2019					300,545,000
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2019	27,955,718		27,774,634			25,904,804	2,297,897		(428,067)	181,084
Balance at beginning of period (shares) at Jun. 30, 2019					156,675,000
Balance at beginning of period at Jun. 30, 2019	4,175,116		3,990,604			2,126,065	2,204,445		(339,906)	184,512
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	105,731		95,044				95,044			10,687
Other comprehensive income	(96,881)		(88,161)						(88,161)	(8,720)
Stock issued under share-based compensation plans (shares)					141,000
Stock issued under share-based compensation plans	9,057		9,057			9,057
Common stock repurchased - share-based compensation plans (shares)					(180,000)
Common stock repurchased - share-based compensation plans	(29,584)		(29,584)			(29,584)
Share-based compensation expense	27,877		27,877			27,877
Issuance of common stock in connection with a business combination (shares)					143,909,000
Issuance of common stock in connection with a business combination	23,771,389		23,771,389			23,771,389
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	$ (5,395)									(5,395)
Repurchase of common stock (shares)	0
Dividends declared/ paid	$ (1,592)		(1,592)				(1,592)
Balance at end of period (shares) at Sep. 30, 2019					300,545,000
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2019	27,955,718		27,774,634			25,904,804	2,297,897		(428,067)	181,084
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	420,282		401,876				401,876			18,406
Other comprehensive income	(33,841)		(41,333)						(41,333)	7,492
Stock issued under share-based compensation plans (shares)					1,495,000
Stock issued under share-based compensation plans	51,055		51,055			51,055
Common stock repurchased - share-based compensation plans (shares)					(339,000)
Common stock repurchased - share-based compensation plans	(42,403)		(42,403)			(42,403)
Share-based compensation expense	105,081		105,081			105,081
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	$ (6,955)									(6,955)
Repurchase of common stock (shares)	(2,094,731)				(2,095,000)
Repurchase of common stock	$ (403,962)		(403,962)			(326,441)	(77,521)
Dividends declared/ paid	(175,025)		(175,025)				(175,025)
Balance at end of period (shares) at Sep. 30, 2020					299,287,000
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2020	27,963,842		27,745,657			25,620,599	2,476,962	(5,400)	(351,904)	218,185
Balance at beginning of period (shares) at Jun. 30, 2020					299,244,000
Balance at beginning of period at Jun. 30, 2020	27,632,989		27,425,859			25,570,582	2,314,423		(459,146)	207,130
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income	230,230		220,971				220,971			9,259
Other comprehensive income	115,993		107,242						107,242	8,751
Stock issued under share-based compensation plans (shares)					50,000
Stock issued under share-based compensation plans	8,423		8,423			8,423
Common stock repurchased - share-based compensation plans (shares)					(7,000)
Common stock repurchased - share-based compensation plans	(682)		(682)			(682)
Share-based compensation expense	42,276		42,276			42,276
Distributions to noncontrolling interest	$ (6,955)									(6,955)
Repurchase of common stock (shares)	0
Dividends declared/ paid	$ (58,432)		(58,432)				(58,432)
Balance at end of period (shares) at Sep. 30, 2020					299,287,000
Balance at end of period at Sep. 30, 2020	$ 27,963,842		$ 27,745,657			$ 25,620,599	$ 2,476,962	$ (5,400)	$ (351,904)	$ 218,185