Acquisition and divestitures (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended					6 Months Ended		9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 01, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021		Jun. 30, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2021	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Measurement-period adjustment, goodwill		$ 1,343
Purchase accounting adjustment, deferred income tax liabilities		1,343
Acquired intangibles							$ 45,390
Payment for acquisition, net of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents acquired							0	$ 956,717
Acquisition transaction costs		12			$ 15,843		61	18,608
Total revenue		562,953			478,216		1,118,968	919,481
Net income (loss) attributable to Deluxe		22,062			12,100		31,705	36,391
Restructuring and integration expense		15,208			11,979		31,511	27,191
Pro forma revenue			$ 532,141	[1]	535,493	$ 518,104		1,053,597	$ 1,585,738	$ 2,156,313	$ 2,079,103
Pro forma net income (loss) attributable to Deluxe			14,695	[1]	24,579	$ 19,044		43,623	58,318	74,843	(54,489)
Proceeds from sale of businesses and facility							23,875	0
Gain on sale of businesses and facility		17,527			0		17,527	0
Customer lists/relationships [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Acquired intangibles							12,480
Partner relationships [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Acquired intangibles							1,110
Internal-use software [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Acquired intangibles							31,800
Australian web hosting business [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of businesses and facility		17,620
Gain on sale of businesses and facility		15,166
Lancaster, California facility [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Proceeds from sale of businesses and facility							6,929
Gain on sale of businesses and facility		2,361
Reportable business segments [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Total revenue		562,953			478,216		1,118,968	919,481
Reportable business segments [Member] | Cloud Solutions [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Total revenue		68,587			68,067		138,084	130,287
Reportable business segments [Member] | Cloud Solutions [Member] | Australian web hosting business [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Total revenue										23,766
Reportable business segments [Member] | Promotional Solutions [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Total revenue		139,276			134,987		272,519	259,494
Reportable business segments [Member] | Promotional Solutions [Member] | Promotional Solutions business exits [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Total revenue										30,000
Adjustment [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Pro forma revenue					(27,595)			(27,595)	(27,595)	(26,335)	(3,027)
Pro forma net income (loss) attributable to Deluxe			$ 2,231		7,636			5,911	$ 8,142	10,138	$ (9,082)
First American Payment Systems, L.P. [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Accounts receivable	$ 27,296
Other current assets	8,533
Property, plant and equipment	9,873
Operating lease assets	24,396
Acquired intangibles	291,111
Goodwill	728,516
Other non-current assets	350
Accounts payable	(18,475)
Funds held for customers	(9,428)
Accrued liabilities	(23,460)
Operating lease liabilities, non-current	(21,316)
Deferred income taxes	(54,506)
Other non-current liabilities	(4,376)
Payment for acquisition, net of cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents acquired										$ 958,514
Cash, cash equivalents, restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents acquired	15,841
Total revenue		90,266			27,343		173,550	27,343
Net income (loss) attributable to Deluxe		(238)			$ (66)		(748)	$ (66)
Restructuring and integration expense		$ 2,787					$ 5,000
First American Payment Systems, L.P. [Member] | Customer lists/relationships [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Acquired intangibles	6,111
First American Payment Systems, L.P. [Member] | Partner relationships [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Acquired intangibles	127,000
First American Payment Systems, L.P. [Member] | Technology-based intangibles [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Acquired intangibles	72,000
First American Payment Systems, L.P. [Member] | Trade names [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Acquired intangibles	65,000
First American Payment Systems, L.P. [Member] | Internal-use software [Member]
Acquisition and divestitures [Line Items]
Acquired intangibles	$ 21,000

[1] Only net income attributable to Deluxe was revised for the quarter ended September 30, 2021.