Represents the expense recognized during the period arising from equity-based compensation arrangements (for example, shares of stock, unit, stock options or other equity instruments) with employees, directors and certain consultants qualifying for treatment as employees.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 718
-SubTopic 10
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Unrecognized cost of unvested share-based compensation awards.

+ References

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-Publisher FASB
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- Definition

Amount of cash outflow to satisfy an employee's income tax withholding obligation as part of a net-share settlement of a share-based award.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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- Definition

The number of grants made during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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- Definition

The weighted average fair value at grant date for nonvested equity-based awards issued during the period on other than stock (or unit) option plans (for example, phantom stock or unit plan, stock or unit appreciation rights plan, performance target plan).

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Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

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No definition available.

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The maximum number of shares (or other type of equity) originally approved (usually by shareholders and board of directors), net of any subsequent amendments and adjustments, for awards under the equity-based compensation plan. As stock or unit options and equity instruments other than options are awarded to participants, the shares or units remain authorized and become reserved for issuance under outstanding awards (not necessarily vested).

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- Definition

Percentage of vesting of share-based compensation awards.

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Stock Compensation Plans - Narrative (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2015
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Compensation expense recognized	$ 43		$ 8	$ 214	$ 31
Taxes related to net settlement of vested equity awards				59	$ 0
Initial Public Offering
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Compensation expense recognized		$ 52
Restricted stock awards and restricted stock units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation expense	247			247
Stock options
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Unrecognized compensation expense	$ 95			$ 95
Employee Stock Purchase Plan
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares authorized under the plan	6,000,000			6,000,000
First Data Holdings \| Restricted stock awards and restricted stock units
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Number of shares granted	1,000,000			18,000,000
Weighted average price per share (in dollars per share)				$ 12.55
First Data Holdings \| Restricted stock awards and restricted stock units \| First Anniversary
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting percentage				20.00%
First Data Holdings \| Restricted stock awards and restricted stock units \| Second Anniversary
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting percentage				40.00%
First Data Holdings \| Restricted stock awards and restricted stock units \| Third Anniversary
Share-based Compensation Arrangement by Share-based Payment Award [Line Items]
Award vesting percentage				40.00%