Segment Reporting and Major Customers - Operating Results (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Segment Reporting
Adjusted operating income	$ 368,939	$ 345,021	$ 726,226	$ 675,943
Share-based compensation	11,500	14,230	22,214	20,524
Depreciation and amortization	104,773	104,290	208,483	208,679
Contract asset amortization	8,250	6,711	16,288	13,584
Contract cost asset amortization	8,179	8,511	16,024	19,238
Operating income	219,087	208,698	442,357	396,969
Nonoperating expenses, net	(37,416)	(41,170)	(80,407)	(78,812)
Income before income taxes and equity in income of equity investments	181,671	167,528	361,950	318,157
Net revenue	979,920	956,548	1,960,189	1,892,045
Add: reimbursable items	55,565	51,032	109,827	102,705
Total revenues	1,035,485	1,007,580	2,070,016	1,994,750
Selling, general and administrative expenses
Segment Reporting
Share-based compensation	11,500	14,230	22,214	20,524
Issuer Solutions
Segment Reporting
Total revenues	472,706	458,601	942,865	915,960
Merchant Solutions
Segment Reporting
Total revenues	366,636	348,714	711,817	668,137
Consumer Solutions
Segment Reporting
Total revenues	196,143	200,265	415,334	410,653
Operating Segments
Segment Reporting
Net revenue	992,798	967,697	1,988,406	1,919,162
Operating Segments \| Issuer Solutions
Segment Reporting
Adjusted operating income	209,845	195,275	414,779	391,040
Net revenue	$ 432,445	$ 421,015	$ 865,919	$ 844,589
Operating margin on net revenue	48.50%	46.40%	47.90%	46.30%
Operating Segments \| Merchant Solutions
Segment Reporting
Adjusted operating income	$ 138,366	$ 133,418	$ 267,201	$ 252,358
Net revenue	$ 364,210	$ 346,389	$ 707,166	$ 663,792
Operating margin on net revenue	38.00%	38.50%	37.80%	38.00%
Operating Segments \| Consumer Solutions
Segment Reporting
Adjusted operating income	$ 53,595	$ 54,545	$ 117,288	$ 108,212
Net revenue	$ 196,143	$ 200,293	$ 415,321	$ 410,781
Operating margin on net revenue	27.30%	27.20%	28.20%	26.30%
Corporate Administration and Other \| Corporate administration and other.
Segment Reporting
Adjusted operating income	$ (32,867)	$ (38,217)	$ (73,042)	$ (75,667)
Intersegment
Segment Reporting
Net revenue	12,878	11,149	28,217	27,117
Segment Reconciling Items
Segment Reporting
Merger & acquisition (M&A) and integration expenses2	$ 17,150	$ 2,581	$ 20,860	$ 16,949

TOTAL SYSTEM SERVICES INC 10-Q