Earnings Per Share - Common Stock (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2016
Basic EPS:
Net income attributable to TSYS common shareholders	$ 115,014	$ 69,708	$ 220,882	$ 160,336
Basic EPS	$ 0.62	$ 0.38	$ 1.20	$ 0.87
Diluted EPS:
Net income attributable to TSYS common shareholders	$ 115,014	$ 69,708	$ 220,882	$ 160,336
Diluted EPS	$ 0.62	$ 0.38	$ 1.19	$ 0.87
Common Stock
Basic EPS:
Net income attributable to TSYS common shareholders	$ 115,014	$ 69,708	$ 220,882	$ 160,336
Less income allocated to nonvested awards	(252)	(347)	(631)	(850)
Net income allocated to common stock for EPS calculation	$ 114,762	$ 69,361	$ 220,251	$ 159,486
Average common shares outstanding	183,741	183,724	183,484	183,489
Basic EPS	$ 0.62	$ 0.38	$ 1.20	$ 0.87
Diluted EPS:
Net income attributable to TSYS common shareholders	$ 115,014	$ 69,708	$ 220,882	$ 160,336
Less income allocated to nonvested awards	(252)	(346)	(631)	(847)
Add income allocated to nonvested awards	252		631
Net income allocated to common stock for EPS calculation	$ 115,014	$ 69,362	$ 220,882	$ 159,489
Average common shares outstanding	183,741	183,724	183,484	183,489
Increase due to assumed issuance of shares related to common equivalent shares outstanding	1,121	874	1,093	846
Average nonvested awards	425		545
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding	185,287	184,598	185,122	184,335
Diluted EPS	$ 0.62	$ 0.38	$ 1.19	$ 0.87