Supplemental guarantor financial information (Condensed consolidating balance sheets) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009	Dec. 31, 2008
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 28,687	$ 17,383	$ 12,789	$ 15,590
Trade accounts receivable, net	69,023	66,471
Inventories and supplies	22,043	21,660
Deferred income taxes	7,216	9,390
Funds held for customers	44,394	35,720
Other current assets	21,212	20,613
Total current assets	192,575	171,237
Long-term Investments	45,147	37,410
Property, Plant and Equipment, net	113,411	120,221
Assets Held for Sale	2,741	4,527
Intangibles, net	157,339	155,112
Goodwill	776,998	725,937	658,666
Investments in Consolidated Subsidiaries	0	0
Intercompany (Payable) Receivable	0	0
Other Non-Current Assets	100,598	94,247
Total assets	1,388,809	1,308,691	1,211,210
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	64,694	60,478
Accrued liabilities	150,098	144,034
Short-term debt	0	7,000
Long-term debt due within one year	85,575
Total current liabilities	300,367	211,512
Long-Term Debt	656,131	748,122
Deferred Income Taxes	49,807	46,752
Other Non-Current Liabilities	79,815	76,107
Total shareholders' equity	302,689	226,198	117,210	53,066
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	1,388,809	1,308,691
Deluxe Corporation [Member]
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	3,047	3,197	2,725	3,492
Trade accounts receivable, net	0	0
Inventories and supplies	0	0
Deferred income taxes	1,035	2,854
Funds held for customers	0	0
Other current assets	5,851	9,463
Total current assets	9,933	15,514
Long-term Investments	36,338	34,905
Property, Plant and Equipment, net	0	0
Assets Held for Sale	0	0
Intangibles, net	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Investments in Consolidated Subsidiaries	1,307,149	986,484
Intercompany (Payable) Receivable	(316,876)	(68,348)
Other Non-Current Assets	11,758	12,337
Total assets	1,048,302	980,892
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	13,401	11,697
Accrued liabilities	12,272	9,440
Short-term debt		7,000
Long-term debt due within one year	85,575
Total current liabilities	111,248	28,137
Long-Term Debt	656,131	748,122
Deferred Income Taxes	(27,471)	(25,898)
Other Non-Current Liabilities	5,705	4,333
Total shareholders' equity	302,689	226,198
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	1,048,302	980,892
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	1,522	683	497	536
Trade accounts receivable, net	57,463	53,679
Inventories and supplies	19,941	19,350
Deferred income taxes	5,430	6,303
Funds held for customers	0	0
Other current assets	10,469	8,047
Total current assets	94,825	88,062
Long-term Investments	8,809	2,427
Property, Plant and Equipment, net	96,345	102,427
Assets Held for Sale	2,741	4,527
Intangibles, net	155,452	151,512
Goodwill	775,044	723,938
Investments in Consolidated Subsidiaries	15,478	615
Intercompany (Payable) Receivable	360,789	114,299
Other Non-Current Assets	72,944	71,032
Total assets	1,582,427	1,258,839
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	44,908	42,798
Accrued liabilities	86,001	92,038
Short-term debt	0	0
Total current liabilities	130,909	134,836
Long-Term Debt	0	0
Deferred Income Taxes	74,133	68,794
Other Non-Current Liabilities	70,236	68,725
Total shareholders' equity	1,307,149	986,484
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	1,582,427	1,258,839
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	24,118	13,503	9,567	11,562
Trade accounts receivable, net	11,560	12,792
Inventories and supplies	2,102	2,310
Deferred income taxes	751	233
Funds held for customers	44,394	35,720
Other current assets	4,892	3,103
Total current assets	87,817	67,661
Long-term Investments		78
Property, Plant and Equipment, net	17,066	17,794
Assets Held for Sale	0	0
Intangibles, net	1,887	3,600
Goodwill	1,954	1,999
Investments in Consolidated Subsidiaries	0	0
Intercompany (Payable) Receivable	(43,913)	(45,951)
Other Non-Current Assets	15,896	10,878
Total assets	80,707	56,059
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	6,385	5,983
Accrued liabilities	51,825	42,556
Short-term debt	0	0
Total current liabilities	58,210	48,539
Long-Term Debt	0	0
Deferred Income Taxes	3,145	3,856
Other Non-Current Liabilities	3,874	3,049
Total shareholders' equity	15,478	615
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	80,707	56,059
Eliminations [Member]
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	0	0
Trade accounts receivable, net	0	0
Inventories and supplies	0	0
Deferred income taxes	0	0
Funds held for customers	0	0
Other current assets	0	0
Total current assets	0	0
Long-term Investments	0	0
Property, Plant and Equipment, net	0	0
Assets Held for Sale	0	0
Intangibles, net	0	0
Goodwill	0	0
Investments in Consolidated Subsidiaries	(1,322,627)	(987,099)
Intercompany (Payable) Receivable	0	0
Other Non-Current Assets	0	0
Total assets	(1,322,627)	(987,099)
Current Liabilities:
Accounts payable	0	0
Accrued liabilities	0	0
Short-term debt	0	0
Total current liabilities	0	0
Long-Term Debt	0	0
Deferred Income Taxes	0	0
Other Non-Current Liabilities	0	0
Total shareholders' equity	(1,322,627)	(987,099)
Total liabilities and shareholders' equity	$ (1,322,627)	$ (987,099)