Income tax provision (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2010
Income tax provision [Abstract]
Effective tax rate (in hundredths)	32.00%	35.00%
Favorably (unfavorable) impact on effective tax rate, Medicare Part D subsidies (in hundredths)	1.00%	(1.70%)
Favorably (unfavorably) impact on effective tax rate, other items (in hundredths)	1.20%
Charge resulting from the Health Care and Education Reconciliation Act of 2010		$ 4,063
Favorable impact on effective tax rate, uncertain tax positions (in hundredths)		1.30%

The change in the deferred tax asset attributed to the change in law for prescription drug subsidies received by the entity.

Name:	dlx_DeferredTaxAssetChangePrescriptionDrugSubsidy
Namespace Prefix:	dlx
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The change in the deferred tax asset attributed to the change in law for prescription drug subsidies received by the entity.

+ Details

Name:	dlx_DeferredTaxAssetChangePrescriptionDrugSubsidyValue
Namespace Prefix:	dlx
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The increase or decrease in the period's effective income tax rate attributable to adjustments related to accruals for uncertain tax positions.

+ Details

Name:	dlx_EffectiveTaxRateAccrualsForUncertainTaxPositions
Namespace Prefix:	dlx
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The increase or decrease in the period's effective income tax rate attributable to the collective impact of minor discrete adjustments.

+ Details

Name:	dlx_EffectiveTaxRateMinorDiscreteAdjustments
Namespace Prefix:	dlx
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

A ratio calculated by dividing the reported amount of income tax expense attributable to continuing operations for the period by GAAP-basis pretax income from continuing operations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 12

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32687-109319

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 235

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.4-08.(h)(2))

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6881521&loc=d3e23780-122690

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 109

-Paragraph 47

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher SEC

-Name Regulation S-X (SX)

-Number 210

-Section 08

-Paragraph h

-Subparagraph 2

-Article 4

Reference 5: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 740

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 13

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6907707&loc=d3e32698-109319

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EffectiveIncomeTaxRateContinuingOperations
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_IncomeTaxDisclosureAbstract
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration