Represents the percentage of face value that debt was issued at.

No definition available.

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- Definition

Represents number of series of senior subordinated notes issued under various indentures.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Repurchase price of senior subordinated notes as a percent of the principal amount, plus accrued and unpaid interest of the debt, if there is a change of control as specified in the applicable notes' indenture.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Face (par) amount of debt instrument at time of issuance.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
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- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
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- Definition

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.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Percentage price of original principal amount of debt at which debt can be redeemed by the issuer.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
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- Definition

Face (par) amount of the original debt instrument that was repurchased.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Gross amount of debt extinguished.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

Foreign exchange rate used to translate amounts denominated in functional currency to reporting currency.

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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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- Definition

Difference between the fair value of payments made and the carrying amount of debt which is extinguished prior to maturity.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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- Definition

The cash inflow during the period from additional borrowings in aggregate debt. Includes proceeds from short-term and long-term debt.

+ References

No definition available.

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- Definition

The cash inflow from a borrowing with the highest claim on the assets of the entity in case of bankruptcy or liquidation (with maturities initially due after one year or beyond the operating cycle, if longer).

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
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Debt - Notes Issued Under Indentures Narrative (Details)	1 Months Ended								3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 GBP (£)	Jan. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Jan. 31, 2014 GBP (£)	Aug. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Aug. 31, 2013 CAD	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) debt_instrument	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2014 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) debt_instrument	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2013 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 GBP (£) debt_instrument	Dec. 31, 2015 CAD debt_instrument	Aug. 31, 2013 CAD
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of series of subordinated notes \| debt_instrument									5				5			5	5
Net proceeds from sales of senior notes													$ 985,000,000	$ 642,417,000	$ 782,307,000
Early extinguishment of debt									$ (25,112,000)	$ (2,156,000)		$ (5,544,000)	$ (27,305,000)	$ (16,495,000)	$ (43,724,000)
Repurchase price in the event of change of control, percentage of principal plus accrued and unpaid interest									101.00%				101.00%			101.00%	101.00%
6% Notes due 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount \| CAD																	CAD 1,000,000
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		6.00%							6.00%				6.00%	6.00%		6.00%	6.00%
CAD Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount \| CAD																	CAD 200,000,000
Aggregate principal amount of public offering \| CAD																		CAD 200,000,000
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		6.125%							6.125%				6.125%	6.125%		6.125%	6.125%
GBP Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount \| £				£ 400,000,000												£ 400,000,000
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		6.125%							6.125%				6.125%	6.125%		6.125%	6.125%
Senior notes issued as a percent of par				100.00%
Net proceeds from sales of senior notes			$ 642,000,000	£ 394,000,000
Exchange rate of USD per GBP				1.63
6% Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount									$ 600,000,000				$ 600,000,000
Aggregate principal amount of public offering							$ 600,000,000
Stated interest rate (as a percent)									6.00%				6.00%			6.00%	6.00%
The 5 3/4% Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount									$ 1,000,000,000				$ 1,000,000,000
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		5.75%							5.75%				5.75%	5.75%		5.75%	5.75%
6% Notes due 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		6.00%							6.00%				6.00%	6.00%		6.00%	6.00%
Senior notes issued as a percent of par							100.00%											100.00%
Net proceeds from sales of senior notes \| CAD								CAD 782,307,000
8 3/8% Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		8.375%							8.375%				8.375%	8.375%		8.375%	8.375%
Aggregate principal amount outstanding		$ 306,000,000					$ 137,500,000
Redemption price (as a percent)		104.188%
Early extinguishment of debt		$ 16,495,000
The CAD Senior Subordinated Subsidiary Notes, 8% Notes, 8% Notes due 2020 and 8.375% Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Early extinguishment of debt											$ (38,118,000)
The 7 1/4% Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		7.25%							7.25%				7.25%	7.25%	7.25%	7.25%	7.25%
Aggregate principal amount outstanding					$ 248,000,000	£ 150,000,000
Redemption price (as a percent)					100.00%	100.00%
Senior Notes \| 6% Notes due 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal Amount	$ 1,000,000,000									$ 1,000,000,000
Stated interest rate (as a percent)	6.00%									6.00%
Proceeds from issuing debt	$ 985,000,000
Term Loan Facility \| New Credit Agreement
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)									5.75%				5.75%			5.75%	5.75%
CAD Senior Notes 7.5% Percent Due 2017
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)									7.50%				7.50%			7.50%	7.50%
8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2018
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)									8.00%				8.00%			8.00%	8.00%
8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)									8.00%				8.00%			8.00%	8.00%
6 3/4% Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		6.75%							6.75%				6.75%	6.75%	6.75%	6.75%	6.75%
7 3/4% Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate (as a percent)		7.75%							7.75%				7.75%	7.75%		7.75%	7.75%
Parent
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of series of subordinated notes \| debt_instrument									3				3			3	3
Canada Company
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of series of subordinated notes \| debt_instrument									1				1			1	1
Iron Mountain Europe
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Number of series of subordinated notes \| debt_instrument									1				1			1	1