CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)
Cash Flows from Operating Activities:
Net Income (Loss)	$ 185,432	$ 107,233	$ 125,203
(Income) loss from discontinued operations	6,291	(3,353)	0
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash flows from operating activities:
Depreciation	406,283	365,526	301,219
Amortization (includes amortization of deferred financing costs and discount of $9,249, $13,151 and $14,962 in 2015, 2016 and 2017, respectively)	131,055	99,951	53,494
Goodwill and Intangible Asset Impairment	3,011	0	0
Revenue reduction associated with amortization of permanent withdrawal fees	11,253	12,217	11,670
Stock-based compensation expense	30,019	28,976	27,585
(Benefit) provision for deferred income taxes	(36,370)	(50,368)	(7,473)
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	78,368	9,283	27,305
Loss (gain) on disposal/write-down of property, plant and equipment, net (including real estate)	(766)	(898)	1,941
Gain (Loss) on Disposition of Iron Mountain Divestments	0	16,838	0
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal	(38,869)	0	0
Foreign currency transactions and other, net	50,503	16,624	44,221
Changes in Assets and Liabilities (exclusive of acquisitions):
Accounts receivable	(89,653)	(23,206)	17,984
Prepaid expenses and other	(25,281)	(34,274)	5,171
Accounts payable	34,898	(50,712)	18,017
Accrued expenses and deferred revenue	(35,079)	51,617	(77,469)
Other assets and long-term liabilities	13,164	(4,238)	(7,108)
Cash Flows from Operating Activities-Continuing Operations	724,259	541,216	541,760
Cash Flows from Operating Activities-Discontinued Operations	(3,291)	2,679	0
Cash Flows from Operating Activities	720,968	543,895	541,760
Cash Flows from Investing Activities:
Capital expenditures	(343,131)	(328,603)	(290,249)
Cash paid for acquisitions, net of cash acquired	(219,705)	(291,965)	(113,558)
Acquisition of customer relationships	(55,126)	(31,561)	(32,611)
Customer inducements	(20,059)	(19,205)	(22,500)
Net proceeds from Iron Mountain Divestments	29,236	30,654	0
Proceeds from sales of property and equipment and other, net (including real estate)	9,337	7,977	2,272
Cash Flows from Investing Activities-Continuing Operations	(599,448)	(632,703)	(456,646)
Cash Flows from Investing Activities-Discontinued Operations	0	96,712	0
Cash Flows from Investing Activities	(599,448)	(535,991)	(456,646)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities:
Repayment of revolving credit and term loan facilities and other debt	(14,429,695)	(14,851,440)	(10,796,873)
Proceeds from revolving credit and term loan facilities and other debt	13,917,055	14,544,388	10,925,709
Early retirement of senior subordinated notes	(1,746,856)	0	(814,728)
Net proceeds from sales of senior notes	2,656,948	925,443	985,000
Proceeds from Noncontrolling Interests	13,230	1,299	7,590
Payments to Noncontrolling Interests	(4,151)	(1,765)	(2,016)
Parent cash dividends	(439,999)	(505,871)	(406,508)
Net proceeds associated with the Equity Offering	516,462	0	0
Net proceeds associated with the At The Market (ATM) Program	59,129	0	0
Net proceeds (payments) associated with employee stock-based awards	13,095	31,922	7,149
Excess tax (deficiency) benefits from employee stock-based awards	0	0	327
Payment of debt financing and stock issuance costs	(14,793)	(18,603)	(14,161)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities-Continuing Operations	540,425	125,373	(108,511)
Cash Flows from Financing Activities-Discontinued Operations	0	0	0
Cash Flows from Financing Activities	540,425	125,373	(108,511)
Effect of Exchange Rates on Cash and Cash Equivalents	27,270	(25,174)	(8,015)
(Decrease) Increase in cash and cash equivalents	689,215	108,103	(31,412)
Cash and cash equivalents, beginning of year	236,484	128,381	159,793
Cash and cash equivalents, end of year	925,699	236,484	128,381
Supplemental Information:
Cash Paid for Interest	368,468	297,122	259,815
Cash Paid for Income Taxes, Net	104,498	69,866	42,440
Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:
Capital Leases	166,843	74,881	50,083
Accrued Capital Expenditures	71,098	62,691	51,846
Business Combination, Consideration Transferred, Accrued Purchase Price and Other Holdbacks	20,093	0	0
Dividends Payable	172,102	5,625	5,950
Fair Value of Stock Issued for Recall Transaction	0	1,835,026	0
Equity Method Investments, Fair Value Disclosure	18,000	0	0
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operations [Member] | Russia and Ukraine Divestment [Member]
Adjustments to reconcile net income (loss) to cash flows from operating activities:
Disposal Group, Not Discontinued Operation, Gain (Loss) on Disposal	(38,869)
FORTRUST [Member]
Non-Cash Investing and Financing Activities:
Fair Value of Stock Issued for Recall Transaction	$ 83,014	$ 0	$ 0