Noncontrolling Interests (Preferred Stockholders' Equity in Subsidiaries)	12 Months Ended
Dec. 31, 2011
Notes To Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements [Abstract]
Noncontrolling Interests (Preferred Stockholders' Equity in Subsidiaries)	10. Noncontrolling Interests (Preferred Stockholders' Equity in Subsidiaries) In 2009, Pitney Bowes International Holdings, Inc. (PBIH), a subsidiary, issued 300,000 shares, or $300 million, of perpetual voting preferred stock (the Preferred Stock) to certain outside institutional investors. The holders of the Preferred Stock are entitled as a group to 25% of the combined voting power of all classes of capital stock of PBIH. All outstanding common stock of PBIH, representing the remaining 75% of the combined voting power of all classes of capital stock, is owned directly or indirectly by the Company. The Preferred Stock is entitled to cumulative dividends at a rate of 6.125% for a period of seven years after which it becomes callable and, if it remains outstanding, will yield a dividend that increases by 50% every six months thereafter. Also in 2009, PBIH redeemed all of the then outstanding 3,750,000 shares of variable term voting preferred stock owned by certain outside institutional investors for $375 million. These preferred shares were entitled as a group to 25% of the combined voting power of all classes of capital stock of PBIH. All outstanding common stock of PBIH, representing the remaining 75% of the combined voting power of all classes of capital stock, was owned directly or indirectly by the Company. Preferred Stock dividends were $18 million, $18 million and $21 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The dividend amount for 2009 includes an expense of $3 million associated with the redemption of the $375 million variable term voting preferred stock. No dividends were in arrears at December 31, 2011 or December 31, 2010. The carrying value of the Preferred Stock is reported as Noncontrolling interests (Preferred stockholders' equity in subsidiaries) on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. There was no change in the carrying value of noncontrolling interests during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010.

Noncontrolling Interests (Preferred Stockholders' Equity in Subsidiaries)

12 Months Ended

Dec. 31, 2011

Notes To Condensed Consolidated Financial Statements [Abstract]

Noncontrolling Interests (Preferred Stockholders' Equity in Subsidiaries)

10. Noncontrolling Interests (Preferred Stockholders' Equity in Subsidiaries)

In 2009, Pitney Bowes International Holdings, Inc. (PBIH), a subsidiary, issued 300,000 shares, or $300 million, of perpetual voting preferred stock (the Preferred Stock) to certain outside institutional investors. The holders of the Preferred Stock are entitled as a group to 25% of the combined voting power of all classes of capital stock of PBIH. All outstanding common stock of PBIH, representing the remaining 75% of the combined voting power of all classes of capital stock, is owned directly or indirectly by the Company. The Preferred Stock is entitled to cumulative dividends at a rate of 6.125% for a period of seven years after which it becomes callable and, if it remains outstanding, will yield a dividend that increases by 50% every six months thereafter.

Also in 2009, PBIH redeemed all of the then outstanding 3,750,000 shares of variable term voting preferred stock owned by certain outside institutional investors for $375 million. These preferred shares were entitled as a group to 25% of the combined voting power of all classes of capital stock of PBIH. All outstanding common stock of PBIH, representing the remaining 75% of the combined voting power of all classes of capital stock, was owned directly or indirectly by the Company.

Preferred Stock dividends were $18 million, $18 million and $21 million for the years ended December 31, 2011, 2010 and 2009, respectively. The dividend amount for 2009 includes an expense of $3 million associated with the redemption of the $375 million variable term voting preferred stock. No dividends were in arrears at December 31, 2011 or December 31, 2010.

The carrying value of the Preferred Stock is reported as Noncontrolling interests (Preferred stockholders' equity in subsidiaries) on the Consolidated Balance Sheets. There was no change in the carrying value of noncontrolling interests during the years ended December 31, 2011 and 2010.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for noncontrolling interest in consolidated subsidiaries, which could include the name of the subsidiary, the ownership percentage held by the parent, the ownership percentage held by the noncontrolling owners, the amount of the noncontrolling interest, the location of this amount on the balance sheet (when not reported separately), an explanation of the increase or decrease in the amount of the noncontrolling interest, the noncontrolling interest share of the net Income or Loss of the subsidiary, the location of this amount on the income statement (when not reported separately), the nature of the noncontrolling interest such as background information and terms, the amount of the noncontrolling interest represented by preferred stock, a description of the preferred stock, and the dividend requirements of the preferred stock.

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