2.2.0.7 true Fair Value Measurements (Details) (USD $) 0606 - Disclosure - Fair Value Measurements (Details) true false In Millions false false 1 USD false false USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 Shares Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance shares xbrli 0 Pure Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/instance pure xbrli 0 $ 2 Assets: 2 us-gaap_AssetsAbstract us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false true false false false false false terselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string No definition available. false 3 State and municipal obligations 2 wu_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisStateAndMunicipalDebtInstrumentsAssets wu false debit instant This element represents a certain statement of financial position asset caption which represents a class of assets, or which... false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 true true false false 854900000 854.9 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary This element represents a certain statement of financial position asset caption which represents a class of assets, or which may include an individual asset, measured at fair value on a recurring basis. No authoritative reference available. false 4 State and municipal variable rate demand notes 2 wu_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisStateAndMunicipalVariableRateDemandNotesAssets wu false debit instant This element represents a certain statement of financial position asset caption which represents a class of assets, or which... false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 351500000 351.5 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary This element represents a certain statement of financial position asset caption which represents a class of assets, or which may include an individual asset, measured at fair value on a recurring basis. 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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 157 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph a true 8 Total assets 2 wu_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisTotal wu false debit instant Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Total. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 1381900000 1381.9 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Fair Value, Assets Measured on Recurring Basis, Total. No authoritative reference available. true 9 Liabilities: 2 us-gaap_LiabilitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false true false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string No definition available. false 10 Derivatives 2 us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsLiabilities us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 73700000 73.7 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary This element represents a certain statement of financial position liability caption which represents a class of liabilities, or which may include an individual liability, measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 157 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph a true 11 Total liabilities 2 wu_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisTotal wu false credit instant Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Total. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 73700000 73.7 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Total. No authoritative reference available. true 12 Fair Value Measurements (Numeric) [Abstract] 2 wu_FairValueMeasurementsNumericAbstract wu false na duration Fair Value Measurements Numeric. false false false false false true false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string Fair Value Measurements Numeric. false 13 Borrowings, Carrying Value 2 us-gaap_DebtAndCapitalLeaseObligations us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 3296500000 3296.5 [1] false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Sum of the carrying values as of the balance sheet date of all debt, including all short-term borrowings, long-term debt, and capital lease obligations. No authoritative reference available. false 14 Borrowings, Fair Value 2 us-gaap_DebtInstrumentFairValue us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 3535200000 3535.2 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Estimated fair value of the debt instrument at the balance-sheet date. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 107 -Paragraph 10 false 15 Level 1 [Member] 0 na true na na No definition available. false true false false false false false false false false false http://westernunion.com/role/fairvaluemeasurementsdetails false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false false 3 USD true false false false us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisDisclosureItemsAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisDisclosureItemsAxis explicitMember USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 $ na No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 16 Assets: 2 us-gaap_AssetsAbstract us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false true false false false false false terselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string No definition available. false 17 State and municipal obligations 2 wu_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisStateAndMunicipalDebtInstrumentsAssets wu false debit instant This element represents a certain statement of financial position asset caption which represents a class of assets, or which... false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary This element represents a certain statement of financial position asset caption which represents a class of assets, or which may include an individual asset, measured at fair value on a recurring basis. 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No authoritative reference available. false 20 Other 2 wu_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisOtherAsset wu false debit instant This element represents a certain statement of financial position asset caption which represents a class of assets, or which... false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 200000 0.2 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary This element represents a certain statement of financial position asset caption which represents a class of assets, or which may include an individual asset, measured at fair value on a recurring basis. 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No authoritative reference available. true 29 Level 2 [Member] 0 na true na na No definition available. false true false false false false false false false false false http://westernunion.com/role/fairvaluemeasurementsdetails false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false false 4 USD true false false false us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisDisclosureItemsAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisDisclosureItemsAxis explicitMember USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 $ na No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 30 Assets: 2 us-gaap_AssetsAbstract us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false true false false false false false terselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string No definition available. false 31 State and municipal obligations 2 wu_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisStateAndMunicipalDebtInstrumentsAssets wu false debit instant This element represents a certain statement of financial position asset caption which represents a class of assets, or which... false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 854900000 854.9 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary This element represents a certain statement of financial position asset caption which represents a class of assets, or which may include an individual asset, measured at fair value on a recurring basis. No authoritative reference available. false 32 State and municipal variable rate demand notes 2 wu_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisStateAndMunicipalVariableRateDemandNotesAssets wu false debit instant This element represents a certain statement of financial position asset caption which represents a class of assets, or which... false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 351500000 351.5 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary This element represents a certain statement of financial position asset caption which represents a class of assets, or which may include an individual asset, measured at fair value on a recurring basis. No authoritative reference available. false 33 Corporate debt securities 2 wu_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisCorporateDebtSecuritiesAsset wu false debit instant This element represents a certain statement of financial position asset caption which represents a class of assets, or which... false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 20500000 20.5 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary This element represents a certain statement of financial position asset caption which represents a class of assets, or which may include an individual asset, measured at fair value on a recurring basis. No authoritative reference available. false 34 Other 2 wu_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisOtherAsset wu false debit instant This element represents a certain statement of financial position asset caption which represents a class of assets, or which... false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary This element represents a certain statement of financial position asset caption which represents a class of assets, or which may include an individual asset, measured at fair value on a recurring basis. No authoritative reference available. false 35 Derivatives 2 us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsAssets us-gaap true debit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 154800000 154.8 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary This element represents a certain statement of financial position asset caption which represents a class of assets, or which may include an individual asset, measured at fair value on a recurring basis. 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No authoritative reference available. true 43 Level 3 [Member] 0 na true na na No definition available. false true false false false false false false false false false http://westernunion.com/role/fairvaluemeasurementsdetails false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false false 5 USD true false false false us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisDisclosureItemsAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member us-gaap_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisDisclosureItemsAxis explicitMember USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 $ na No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 44 Assets: 2 us-gaap_AssetsAbstract us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false true false false false false false terselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string No definition available. false 45 State and municipal obligations 2 wu_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisStateAndMunicipalDebtInstrumentsAssets wu false debit instant This element represents a certain statement of financial position asset caption which represents a class of assets, or which... false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary This element represents a certain statement of financial position asset caption which represents a class of assets, or which may include an individual asset, measured at fair value on a recurring basis. 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No authoritative reference available. false 47 Corporate debt securities 2 wu_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisCorporateDebtSecuritiesAsset wu false debit instant This element represents a certain statement of financial position asset caption which represents a class of assets, or which... false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary This element represents a certain statement of financial position asset caption which represents a class of assets, or which may include an individual asset, measured at fair value on a recurring basis. No authoritative reference available. false 48 Other 2 wu_FairValueAssetsMeasuredOnRecurringBasisOtherAsset wu false debit instant This element represents a certain statement of financial position asset caption which represents a class of assets, or which... false false false false false false false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false true false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary This element represents a certain statement of financial position asset caption which represents a class of assets, or which may include an individual asset, measured at fair value on a recurring basis. 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No authoritative reference available. true 57 Level 1 [Member] 0 na true na na No definition available. false true false false false false false false false false false http://westernunion.com/role/fairvaluemeasurementsdetails false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false false 6 USD true false false false us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisDisclosureItemsAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel1Member us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisDisclosureItemsAxis explicitMember USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 $ na No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 65 Liabilities: 2 us-gaap_LiabilitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false true false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string No definition available. false 66 Derivatives 2 us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsLiabilities us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary This element represents a certain statement of financial position liability caption which represents a class of liabilities, or which may include an individual liability, measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 157 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph a true 67 Total liabilities 2 wu_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisTotal wu false credit instant Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Total. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Total. No authoritative reference available. true 71 Level 2 [Member] 0 na true na na No definition available. false true false false false false false false false false false http://westernunion.com/role/fairvaluemeasurementsdetails false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false false 7 USD true false false false us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisDisclosureItemsAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel2Member us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisDisclosureItemsAxis explicitMember USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 $ na No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 79 Liabilities: 2 us-gaap_LiabilitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false true false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string No definition available. false 80 Derivatives 2 us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsLiabilities us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 73700000 73.7 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary This element represents a certain statement of financial position liability caption which represents a class of liabilities, or which may include an individual liability, measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 157 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph a true 81 Total liabilities 2 wu_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisTotal wu false credit instant Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Total. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 73700000 73.7 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Total. No authoritative reference available. true 85 Level 3 [Member] 0 na true na na No definition available. false true false false false false false false false false false http://westernunion.com/role/fairvaluemeasurementsdetails false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false false 8 USD true false false false us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisDisclosureItemsAxis xbrldi http://xbrl.org/2006/xbrldi us-gaap_FairValueInputsLevel3Member us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisDisclosureItemsAxis explicitMember USD Standard http://www.xbrl.org/2003/iso4217 USD iso4217 0 $ na No definition available. No authoritative reference available. false 93 Liabilities: 2 us-gaap_LiabilitiesAbstract us-gaap true na duration No definition available. false false false false false true false false false false false verboselabel false 1 false false false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:stringItemType string No definition available. false 94 Derivatives 2 us-gaap_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisDerivativeFinancialInstrumentsLiabilities us-gaap true credit instant No definition available. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 false true false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary This element represents a certain statement of financial position liability caption which represents a class of liabilities, or which may include an individual liability, measured at fair value on a recurring basis. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef -Publisher FASB -Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS) -Number 157 -Paragraph 32 -Subparagraph a true 95 Total liabilities 2 wu_FairValueLiabilitiesMeasuredOnRecurringBasisTotal wu false credit instant Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Total. false false false false false false false false false false false totallabel false 1 true true false false 0 0 false false false xbrli:monetaryItemType monetary Fair Value, Liabilities Measured on Recurring Basis, Total. No authoritative reference available. true 1 At June 30, 2010, the Company's weighted average effective rate on total borrowings was 5.3%. 1 49 false HundredThousands UnKnown UnKnown false true