Earnings Per Share - Common Stock (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Basic EPS:
Net income	$ 142,435	$ 115,014	$ 284,276	$ 220,882
Less income allocated to nonvested awards	(59)	(252)	(233)	(631)
Net income allocated to common stock for EPS calculation	$ 142,376	$ 114,762	$ 284,043	$ 220,251
Nonvested awards (in shares)	182,279	183,741	181,842	183,484
Basic EPS	$ 0.78	$ 0.62	$ 1.56	$ 1.20
Diluted EPS:
Net income	$ 142,435	$ 115,014	$ 284,276	$ 220,882
Less income allocated to nonvested awards	(59)	(252)	(233)	(631)
Add income allocated to nonvested awards	59	252	233	631
Net income allocated to common stock for EPS calculation	$ 142,435	$ 115,014	$ 284,276	$ 220,882
Average common shares outstanding	182,279	183,741	181,842	183,484
Increase due to assumed issuance of shares related to common equivalent shares outstanding	881	1,121	1,064	1,093
Average nonvested awards	415	425	551	545
Average common and common equivalent shares outstanding	183,575	185,287	183,457	185,122
Diluted EPS attributable to TSYS common shareholders (Note 11) (in dollars per share)	$ 0.78	$ 0.62	$ 1.55	$ 1.19