UNAUDITED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 1,105,941	$ 857,670	$ 2,924,131	$ 2,485,811
Operating expenses:
Cost of service	427,720	265,013	1,035,225	781,943
Selling, general and administrative	504,184	369,495	1,293,651	1,133,799
Total operating expenses	931,904	634,508	2,328,876	1,915,742
Operating income	174,037	223,162	595,255	570,069
Other income (expense):
Interest and other income	11,232	3,134	20,342	17,397
Interest and other expense	(96,161)	(46,356)	(220,858)	(139,681)
Total nonoperating income (expense)	(84,929)	(43,222)	(200,516)	(122,284)
Income before income taxes	89,108	179,940	394,739	447,785
Income tax benefit (expense)	16,623	6,089	(39,765)	(46,441)
Net income	105,731	186,029	354,974	401,344
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests, net of income tax	(10,687)	(9,659)	(27,132)	(24,506)
Net income attributable to Global Payments	$ 95,044	$ 176,370	$ 327,842	$ 376,838
Earnings per share attributable to Global Payments:
Basic earnings per share (USD per share)	$ 0.54	$ 1.12	$ 2.00	$ 2.37
Diluted earnings per share (USD per share)	$ 0.54	$ 1.11	$ 2.00	$ 2.36

Interest and Other Expense

No definition available.

Name:	gpn_InterestandOtherExpense
Namespace Prefix:	gpn_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The aggregate costs related to goods produced and sold and services rendered by an entity during the reporting period. This excludes costs incurred during the reporting period related to financial services rendered and other revenue generating activities.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 220
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 2
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-03.2(a),(d))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=116634182&loc=SL114868664-224227