Selected Consolidated Financial Statements of Parent, Guarantors, Canada Company and Non-Guarantors - Statements of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Revenues:
Storage Rental	$ 461,209	$ 466,889	$ 920,081	$ 925,778
Service	298,525	320,003	588,939	631,240
Intercompany Service	0	0	0	0
Total Revenues	759,734	786,892	1,509,020	1,557,018
Operating Expenses:
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	326,283	336,961	647,937	672,106
Selling, General and Administrative	215,885	213,807	412,299	428,587
Intercompany Service Cost of Sales	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and Amortization	87,549	88,941	173,500	175,374
Loss (Gain) on Disposal/Write-down of Property, Plant and Equipment (Excluding Real Estate), net	515	(107)	848	1,045
Total Operating Expenses	630,232	639,602	1,234,584	1,277,112
Operating (Loss) Income	129,502	147,290	274,436	279,906
Interest Expense (Income), Net	66,087	62,201	130,985	124,513
Other (Income) Expense, Net	2,004	(4,838)	24,353	479
(Loss) Income from Continuing Operations Before Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes and (Gain) Loss on Sale of Real Estate	61,411	89,927	119,098	154,914
(Benefit) Provision for Income Taxes	7,404	(182,775)	23,352	(153,041)
Gain on Sale of Real Estate, Net of Tax			0	(7,468)
Equity in the (Earnings) Losses of Subsidiaries, Net of Tax	0	0	0	0
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations	54,007	272,702	95,746	315,423
(Loss) Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax	0	(326)	0	(938)
Net Income (Loss)	54,007	272,376	95,746	314,485
Less: Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	677	739	1,320	1,181
Net income (loss) attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	53,330	271,637	94,426	313,304
Net income (loss)	54,007	272,376	95,746	314,485
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments	1,000	4,526	(55,175)	6,314
Market Value Adjustments for Securities	0	548	23	548
Equity in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) of Subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	1,000	5,074	(55,152)	6,862
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	55,007	277,450	40,594	321,347
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	345	1,165	887	1,718
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	54,662	276,285	39,707	319,629
Eliminations
Revenues:
Storage Rental	0	0	0	0
Service	0	0	0	0
Intercompany Service	(23,181)	(15,194)	(39,952)	(32,552)
Total Revenues	(23,181)	(15,194)	(39,952)	(32,552)
Operating Expenses:
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	0	0	0	0
Selling, General and Administrative	0	0	0	0
Intercompany Service Cost of Sales	(23,181)	(15,194)	(39,952)	(32,552)
Depreciation and Amortization	0	0	0	0
Loss (Gain) on Disposal/Write-down of Property, Plant and Equipment (Excluding Real Estate), net	0	0	0	0
Total Operating Expenses	(23,181)	(15,194)	(39,952)	(32,552)
Operating (Loss) Income	0	0	0	0
Interest Expense (Income), Net	0	0	0	0
Other (Income) Expense, Net	0	0	0	0
(Loss) Income from Continuing Operations Before Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes and (Gain) Loss on Sale of Real Estate	0	0	0	0
(Benefit) Provision for Income Taxes	0	0	0	0
Gain on Sale of Real Estate, Net of Tax				0
Equity in the (Earnings) Losses of Subsidiaries, Net of Tax	99,721	370,322	165,870	489,902
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations				(489,902)
(Loss) Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax		0		0
Net Income (Loss)	(99,721)	(370,322)	(165,870)	(489,902)
Less: Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	(99,721)	(370,322)	(165,870)	(489,902)
Net income (loss)	(99,721)	(370,322)	(165,870)	(489,902)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments	0	0	0	0
Market Value Adjustments for Securities		0	0	0
Equity in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) of Subsidiaries	(8,282)	(11,945)	124,542	(9,685)
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(8,282)	(11,945)	124,542	(9,685)
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(108,003)	(382,267)	(41,328)	(499,587)
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	(108,003)	(382,267)	(41,328)	(499,587)
Parent | Reportable legal entities
Revenues:
Storage Rental	0	0	0	0
Service	0	0	0	0
Intercompany Service	0	0	0	0
Total Revenues	0	0	0	0
Operating Expenses:
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	0	0	0	0
Selling, General and Administrative	24	36	97	64
Intercompany Service Cost of Sales	0	0	0	0
Depreciation and Amortization	45	56	91	133
Loss (Gain) on Disposal/Write-down of Property, Plant and Equipment (Excluding Real Estate), net	0	0	0	0
Total Operating Expenses	69	92	188	197
Operating (Loss) Income	(69)	(92)	(188)	(197)
Interest Expense (Income), Net	39,222	46,674	78,392	94,839
Other (Income) Expense, Net	1,127	8,105	(911)	6,825
(Loss) Income from Continuing Operations Before Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes and (Gain) Loss on Sale of Real Estate	(40,418)	(54,871)	(77,669)	(101,861)
(Benefit) Provision for Income Taxes	0	0	0	0
Gain on Sale of Real Estate, Net of Tax				0
Equity in the (Earnings) Losses of Subsidiaries, Net of Tax	(93,748)	(326,508)	(172,095)	(415,165)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations		271,637		313,304
(Loss) Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax		0
Net Income (Loss)	53,330	271,637	94,426	313,304
Less: Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	53,330	271,637	94,426	313,304
Net income (loss)	53,330	271,637	94,426	313,304
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments	(1,464)	663	3,466	751
Market Value Adjustments for Securities		0	0	0
Equity in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) of Subsidiaries	2,796	3,985	(58,185)	5,574
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	1,332	4,648	(54,719)	6,325
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	54,662	276,285	39,707	319,629
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	54,662	276,285	39,707	319,629
Guarantors | Reportable legal entities
Revenues:
Storage Rental	305,913	301,683	610,505	602,012
Service	189,268	190,613	370,133	377,043
Intercompany Service	1,055	0	1,407	0
Total Revenues	496,236	492,296	982,045	979,055
Operating Expenses:
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	196,080	196,328	392,741	399,248
Selling, General and Administrative	149,051	142,698	281,243	289,276
Intercompany Service Cost of Sales	6,400	0	6,400	0
Depreciation and Amortization	56,360	52,322	111,763	104,962
Loss (Gain) on Disposal/Write-down of Property, Plant and Equipment (Excluding Real Estate), net	440	(97)	762	832
Total Operating Expenses	408,331	391,251	792,909	794,318
Operating (Loss) Income	87,905	101,045	189,136	184,737
Interest Expense (Income), Net	(6,415)	(3,004)	(13,092)	(7,856)
Other (Income) Expense, Net	3,139	6,214	4,522	7,721
(Loss) Income from Continuing Operations Before Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes and (Gain) Loss on Sale of Real Estate	91,181	97,835	197,706	184,872
(Benefit) Provision for Income Taxes	(1,037)	(193,131)	8,665	(169,328)
Gain on Sale of Real Estate, Net of Tax				(197)
Equity in the (Earnings) Losses of Subsidiaries, Net of Tax	(643)	(35,234)	18,097	(60,060)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations		326,200		414,457
(Loss) Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax		(335)		(960)
Net Income (Loss)	92,861	325,865	170,944	413,497
Less: Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	92,861	325,865	170,944	413,497
Net income (loss)	92,861	325,865	170,944	413,497
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments	0	(657)	0	84
Market Value Adjustments for Securities		548	23	548
Equity in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) of Subsidiaries	2,907	4,116	(57,989)	4,045
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	2,907	4,007	(57,966)	4,677
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	95,768	329,872	112,978	418,174
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	95,768	329,872	112,978	418,174
Canada Company | Reportable legal entities
Revenues:
Storage Rental	30,804	31,295	61,672	61,706
Service	16,108	17,591	32,665	33,741
Intercompany Service	0	0	0	0
Total Revenues	46,912	48,886	94,337	95,447
Operating Expenses:
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	6,642	6,322	13,807	12,564
Selling, General and Administrative	3,795	3,090	7,962	6,843
Intercompany Service Cost of Sales	15,726	15,194	32,145	32,552
Depreciation and Amortization	3,165	2,979	6,217	5,978
Loss (Gain) on Disposal/Write-down of Property, Plant and Equipment (Excluding Real Estate), net	0	0	0	1
Total Operating Expenses	29,328	27,585	60,131	57,938
Operating (Loss) Income	17,584	21,301	34,206	37,509
Interest Expense (Income), Net	8,342	7,836	16,545	17,383
Other (Income) Expense, Net	(10)	0	(137)	(20)
(Loss) Income from Continuing Operations Before Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes and (Gain) Loss on Sale of Real Estate	9,252	13,465	17,798	20,146
(Benefit) Provision for Income Taxes	4,796	3,572	7,859	6,110
Gain on Sale of Real Estate, Net of Tax				0
Equity in the (Earnings) Losses of Subsidiaries, Net of Tax	(874)	1,313	(1,933)	(641)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations		8,580		14,677
(Loss) Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax		0		0
Net Income (Loss)	5,330	8,580	11,872	14,677
Less: Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	5,330	8,580	11,872	14,677
Net income (loss)	5,330	8,580	11,872	14,677
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments	1,037	2,181	(6,903)	(437)
Market Value Adjustments for Securities		0	0	0
Equity in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) of Subsidiaries	1,542	1,663	(1,465)	503
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	2,579	3,844	(8,368)	66
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	7,909	12,424	3,504	14,743
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	7,909	12,424	3,504	14,743
Non-Guarantors | Reportable legal entities
Revenues:
Storage Rental	124,492	133,911	247,904	262,060
Service	93,149	111,799	186,141	220,456
Intercompany Service	22,126	15,194	38,545	32,552
Total Revenues	239,767	260,904	472,590	515,068
Operating Expenses:
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	123,561	134,311	241,389	260,294
Selling, General and Administrative	63,015	67,983	122,997	132,404
Intercompany Service Cost of Sales	1,055	0	1,407	0
Depreciation and Amortization	27,979	33,584	55,429	64,301
Loss (Gain) on Disposal/Write-down of Property, Plant and Equipment (Excluding Real Estate), net	75	(10)	86	212
Total Operating Expenses	215,685	235,868	421,308	457,211
Operating (Loss) Income	24,082	25,036	51,282	57,857
Interest Expense (Income), Net	24,938	10,695	49,140	20,147
Other (Income) Expense, Net	(2,252)	(19,157)	20,879	(14,047)
(Loss) Income from Continuing Operations Before Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes and (Gain) Loss on Sale of Real Estate	1,396	33,498	(18,737)	51,757
(Benefit) Provision for Income Taxes	3,645	6,784	6,828	10,177
Gain on Sale of Real Estate, Net of Tax				(7,271)
Equity in the (Earnings) Losses of Subsidiaries, Net of Tax	(4,456)	(9,893)	(9,939)	(14,036)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations		36,607		62,887
(Loss) Income from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax		9		22
Net Income (Loss)	2,207	36,616	(15,626)	62,909
Less: Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	677	739	1,320	1,181
Net income (loss) attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	1,530	35,877	(16,946)	61,728
Net income (loss)	2,207	36,616	(15,626)	62,909
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments	1,427	2,339	(51,738)	5,916
Market Value Adjustments for Securities		0	0	0
Equity in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) of Subsidiaries	1,037	2,181	(6,903)	(437)
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	2,464	4,520	(58,641)	5,479
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	4,671	41,136	(74,267)	68,388
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	345	1,165	887	1,718
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	$ 4,326	$ 39,971	$ (75,154)	$ 66,670