Supplemental guarantor financial information (Condensed consolidating statements of income) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended																12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011		Sep. 30, 2011		Jun. 30, 2011		Mar. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010		Sep. 30, 2010		Jun. 30, 2010		Mar. 31, 2010		Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Dec. 31, 2009
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 366,426		$ 355,144		$ 346,274		$ 349,752		$ 351,488		$ 367,633		$ 347,996		$ 335,120		$ 1,417,596	$ 1,402,237	$ 1,344,195
Total cost of goods sold																	493,402	488,419	504,782
Gross Profit	236,512	[1]	232,506	[2]	225,587	[3]	229,589	[4]	224,805	[5]	246,200	[6]	226,056	[7]	216,757	[8]	924,194	913,818	839,413
Selling, general and administrative expense, including net restructuring charges																	652,050	632,274	623,924
Asset impairment charges	1,196																1,196	0	24,900
Net gain on sale of facility																	(110)	0	0
Operating Income																	271,058	281,544	190,589
(Loss) gain on early extinguishment of debt																	(6,995)	0	9,834
Interest expense																	(47,797)	(44,165)	(46,280)
Other (expense) income																	(182)	(1,430)	878
Income Before Income Taxes																	216,084	235,949	155,021
Income tax (benefit) provision																	71,489	82,554	55,656
(Loss) Income From Continuing Operations Before Equity In Earnings Of Consolidated Subsidiaries																	144,595	153,395	99,365
Equity In Earnings Of Consolidated Subsidiaries																	0	0	0
Income From Continuing Operations																	144,595	153,395	99,365
Net Loss From Discontinued Operations																	0	(771)	0
Net Income	39,831	[1]	36,735	[2]	35,473	[3]	32,556	[4]	34,826	[5]	50,800	[6]	33,614	[7]	33,384	[8]	144,595	152,624	99,365
Deluxe Corporation [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income [Abstract]
Revenue																	9,409	9,145	24,184
Total cost of goods sold																	0	0	0
Gross Profit																	9,409	9,145	24,184
Selling, general and administrative expense, including net restructuring charges																	9,323	5,663	8,816
Asset impairment charges																			0
Operating Income																	86	3,482	15,368
(Loss) gain on early extinguishment of debt																	(6,995)		9,834
Interest expense																	(47,629)	(44,061)	(46,166)
Other (expense) income																	8,534	4,992	3,398
Income Before Income Taxes																	(46,004)	(35,587)	(17,566)
Income tax (benefit) provision																	(22,143)	(16,952)	(13,685)
(Loss) Income From Continuing Operations Before Equity In Earnings Of Consolidated Subsidiaries																	(23,861)	(18,635)	(3,881)
Equity In Earnings Of Consolidated Subsidiaries																	168,456	171,259	103,246
Income From Continuing Operations																	144,595	152,624	99,365
Net Loss From Discontinued Operations																	0	0	0
Net Income																	144,595	152,624	99,365
Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income [Abstract]
Revenue																	1,276,898	1,270,480	1,209,475
Total cost of goods sold																	459,119	454,374	470,835
Gross Profit																	817,779	816,106	738,640
Selling, general and administrative expense, including net restructuring charges																	569,957	551,519	541,135
Asset impairment charges																			24,900
Operating Income																	246,736	264,587	172,605
(Loss) gain on early extinguishment of debt																			0
Interest expense																	(8,561)	(6,365)	(4,091)
Other (expense) income																	907	(58)	885
Income Before Income Taxes																	239,082	258,164	169,399
Income tax (benefit) provision																	86,489	92,691	68,203
(Loss) Income From Continuing Operations Before Equity In Earnings Of Consolidated Subsidiaries																	152,593	165,473	101,196
Equity In Earnings Of Consolidated Subsidiaries																	15,863	6,557	2,050
Income From Continuing Operations																	168,456	172,030	103,246
Net Loss From Discontinued Operations																	0	(771)	0
Net Income																	168,456	171,259	103,246
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income [Abstract]
Revenue																	272,994	270,279	271,367
Total cost of goods sold																	159,589	162,473	167,635
Gross Profit																	113,405	107,806	103,732
Selling, general and administrative expense, including net restructuring charges																	89,169	94,331	101,116
Asset impairment charges																			0
Operating Income																	24,236	13,475	2,616
(Loss) gain on early extinguishment of debt																			0
Interest expense																	(1,190)	(930)	(768)
Other (expense) income																	(40)	827	1,340
Income Before Income Taxes																	23,006	13,372	3,188
Income tax (benefit) provision																	7,143	6,815	1,138
(Loss) Income From Continuing Operations Before Equity In Earnings Of Consolidated Subsidiaries																	15,863	6,557	2,050
Equity In Earnings Of Consolidated Subsidiaries																	0	0	0
Income From Continuing Operations																	15,863	6,557	2,050
Net Loss From Discontinued Operations																	0	0	0
Net Income																	15,863	6,557	2,050
Eliminations [Member]
Condensed Consolidating Statement of Income [Abstract]
Revenue																	(141,705)	(147,667)	(160,831)
Total cost of goods sold																	(125,306)	(128,428)	(133,688)
Gross Profit																	(16,399)	(19,239)	(27,143)
Selling, general and administrative expense, including net restructuring charges																	(16,399)	(19,239)	(27,143)
Asset impairment charges																			0
Operating Income																	0	0	0
(Loss) gain on early extinguishment of debt																			0
Interest expense																	9,583	7,191	4,745
Other (expense) income																	(9,583)	(7,191)	(4,745)
Income Before Income Taxes																	0	0	0
Income tax (benefit) provision																	0	0	0
(Loss) Income From Continuing Operations Before Equity In Earnings Of Consolidated Subsidiaries																	0	0	0
Equity In Earnings Of Consolidated Subsidiaries																	(184,319)	(177,816)	(105,296)
Income From Continuing Operations																	(184,319)	(177,816)	(105,296)
Net Loss From Discontinued Operations																	0	0	0
Net Income																	$ (184,319)	$ (177,816)	$ (105,296)

[1] 2011 fourth quarter results included net pre-tax restructuring charges of $3,045 related to our cost reduction initiatives and an asset impairment charge of $1,196 related to a vacant facility which is held for sale.

[2] 2011 third quarter results included net pre-tax restructuring charges of $4,598 related to our cost reduction initiatives.

[3] 2011 second quarter results include net pre-tax restructuring charges of $4,604 related to our cost reduction initiatives.

[4] 2011 first quarter results include net pre-tax restructuring charges of $1,474 related to our cost reduction initiatives.

[5] 2010 fourth quarter results include net pre-tax restructuring charges of $7,754 related to our cost reduction initiatives.

[6] 2010 third quarter results include a $1,482 reduction in income tax expense for discrete items, primarily adjustments to accruals for uncertain tax positions.

[7] 2010 second quarter results include net pre-tax restructuring charges of $2,093 related to our cost reduction initiatives. Results also include a $1,384 reduction in income tax expense for discrete items, primarily reductions in accruals for uncertain tax positions.

[8] 2010 first quarter results include tax expense of $3,662 for discrete items, primarily the impact of recent health care legislation on deferred income taxes.