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, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Consolidating financial statements
Revenues	$ 1,060,823	$ 949,806	$ 2,103,281	$ 1,888,682
Intercompany	0	0	0	0
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization) and Selling, general and administrative	701,790	651,729	1,420,241	1,318,602
Intercompany	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(360)	(2,026)	(822)	(2,363)
Operating Expenses:
Selling, General and Administrative	250,326	237,445	520,056	477,611
Depreciation and Amortization	156,220	128,099	316,798	252,806
Loss (Gain) on Disposal/Write-down of Property, Plant and Equipment (Excluding Real Estate), net	(546)	(216)	(1,676)	(675)
Total Operating Expenses	857,464	779,612	1,735,363	1,570,733
Operating Income (Loss)	203,359	170,194	367,918	317,949
Interest Expense (Income), Net	102,107	89,966	199,733	176,021
Other (Income) Expense, Net	(19,056)	(19,366)	1,095	(25,730)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes and Gain on Sale of Real Estate	120,308	99,594	167,090	167,658
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes	26,405	18,009	27,573	27,229
Gain on Sale of Real Estate, Net of Tax	0	(1,563)	0	(1,563)
Equity in the (Earnings) Losses of Subsidiaries, Net of Tax	0	0	0	0
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations	93,903	83,148	139,517	141,992
Net income (loss)	93,543	81,122	138,695	139,629
Less: Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	142	2,492	610	2,874
Net income (loss) attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	93,401	78,630	138,085	136,755
Net income (loss)	93,543	81,122	138,695	139,629
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments	(139,172)	7,538	(107,521)	58,322
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Securities, Available-for-sale, Adjustment, after Tax			2,203
Change in Fair Value of Interest Rate Swap Agreements	2,388	0	2,203	0
Equity in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) of Subsidiaries	0	0	0	0
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(136,784)	7,538	(105,318)	58,322
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(43,241)	88,660	33,377	197,951
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	(3,274)	2,381	(1,247)	2,213
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	(39,967)	86,279	34,624	195,738
Eliminations
Consolidating financial statements
Revenues	(5,521)	(22,790)	(11,217)	(46,229)
Intercompany	(5,521)	(22,790)	(11,217)	(46,229)
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization) and Selling, general and administrative	0	0	0	0
Intercompany	(5,521)	(22,790)	(11,217)	(46,229)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Operating Expenses:
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	(5,521)	(22,790)	(11,217)	(46,229)
Operating Income (Loss)	0	0	0	0
Interest Expense (Income), Net	0	0	0	0
Other (Income) Expense, Net	0	0	0	0
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes and Gain on Sale of Real Estate	0	0	0	0
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes	0	0	0	0
Gain on Sale of Real Estate, Net of Tax		0		0
Equity in the (Earnings) Losses of Subsidiaries, Net of Tax	186,260	163,769	276,939	297,268
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations	(186,260)	(163,769)	(276,939)	(297,268)
Net income (loss)	(186,260)	(163,769)	(276,939)	(297,268)
Less: Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	(186,260)	(163,769)	(276,939)	(297,268)
Net income (loss)	(186,260)	(163,769)	(276,939)	(297,268)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments	0	0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Securities, Available-for-sale, Adjustment, after Tax			0
Change in Fair Value of Interest Rate Swap Agreements	0
Equity in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) of Subsidiaries	275,878	(29,612)	201,810	(111,480)
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	275,878	(29,612)	201,810	(111,480)
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	89,618	(193,381)	(75,129)	(408,748)
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	89,618	(193,381)	(75,129)	(408,748)
Parent | Reportable legal entities
Consolidating financial statements
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Intercompany	0	0	0	0
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization) and Selling, general and administrative	36	273	79	352
Intercompany	0	0	0	0
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0	0	0
Operating Expenses:
Depreciation and Amortization	32	43	65	89
Loss (Gain) on Disposal/Write-down of Property, Plant and Equipment (Excluding Real Estate), net	0	0	0	0
Total Operating Expenses	68	316	144	441
Operating Income (Loss)	(68)	(316)	(144)	(441)
Interest Expense (Income), Net	50,313	40,377	100,254	83,161
Other (Income) Expense, Net	2,767	339	1,610	420
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes and Gain on Sale of Real Estate	(53,148)	(41,032)	(102,008)	(84,022)
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes	0	0	0	0
Gain on Sale of Real Estate, Net of Tax		0		0
Equity in the (Earnings) Losses of Subsidiaries, Net of Tax	(146,549)	(119,662)	(240,093)	(220,777)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations	93,401	78,630	138,085	136,755
Net income (loss)	93,401	78,630	138,085	136,755
Less: Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	93,401	78,630	138,085	136,755
Net income (loss)	93,401	78,630	138,085	136,755
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments	10,257	(7,076)	4,622	(8,148)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Securities, Available-for-sale, Adjustment, after Tax			2,203
Change in Fair Value of Interest Rate Swap Agreements	2,388
Equity in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) of Subsidiaries	(146,018)	14,725	(110,286)	67,131
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(133,373)	7,649	(103,461)	58,983
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(39,972)	86,279	34,624	195,738
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	0	0	0	0
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	(39,972)	86,279	34,624	195,738
Guarantors | Reportable legal entities
Consolidating financial statements
Revenues	643,068	575,352	1,270,979	1,144,009
Intercompany	1,216	1,141	2,421	2,238
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization) and Selling, general and administrative	419,099	389,679	850,610	791,713
Intercompany	4,305	6,590	8,796	13,196
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(273)	(1,155)	(695)	(957)
Operating Expenses:
Depreciation and Amortization	96,170	75,129	198,616	151,290
Loss (Gain) on Disposal/Write-down of Property, Plant and Equipment (Excluding Real Estate), net	(462)	(246)	(818)	(794)
Total Operating Expenses	519,112	471,152	1,057,204	955,405
Operating Income (Loss)	123,956	104,200	213,775	188,604
Interest Expense (Income), Net	3,005	15,637	1,497	12,358
Other (Income) Expense, Net	6,575	543	8,135	3,062
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes and Gain on Sale of Real Estate	114,376	88,020	204,143	173,184
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes	12,509	436	5,797	13,180
Gain on Sale of Real Estate, Net of Tax		0		0
Equity in the (Earnings) Losses of Subsidiaries, Net of Tax	(39,711)	(29,962)	(36,846)	(53,375)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations	141,578	117,546	235,192	213,379
Net income (loss)	141,305	116,391	234,497	212,422
Less: Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	0	0	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	141,305	116,391	234,497	212,422
Net income (loss)	141,305	116,391	234,497	212,422
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments	0	0	0	0
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Securities, Available-for-sale, Adjustment, after Tax			0
Change in Fair Value of Interest Rate Swap Agreements	0
Equity in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) of Subsidiaries	(129,860)	11,213	(91,524)	39,753
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(129,860)	11,213	(91,524)	39,753
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	11,445	127,604	142,973	252,175
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	0	0		0
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	11,445	127,604	142,973	252,175
Non-Guarantors | Reportable legal entities
Consolidating financial statements
Revenues		349,657		695,259
Intercompany		21,649		43,991
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization) and Selling, general and administrative		251,192		504,841
Intercompany		1,141		2,238
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		(871)		(1,406)
Operating Expenses:
Depreciation and Amortization		48,618		92,880
Loss (Gain) on Disposal/Write-down of Property, Plant and Equipment (Excluding Real Estate), net		26		113
Total Operating Expenses		300,977		600,072
Operating Income (Loss)		48,680		95,187
Interest Expense (Income), Net		39,987		74,867
Other (Income) Expense, Net		(20,121)		(29,058)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes and Gain on Sale of Real Estate		28,814		49,378
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes		7,563		7,527
Gain on Sale of Real Estate, Net of Tax		(1,563)		(1,563)
Equity in the (Earnings) Losses of Subsidiaries, Net of Tax		(13,782)		(22,596)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations		36,596		66,010
Net income (loss)		35,725		64,604
Less: Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests		2,492		2,874
Net income (loss) attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated		33,233		61,730
Net income (loss)		35,725		64,604
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments		11,910		63,131
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Securities, Available-for-sale, Adjustment, after Tax			0
Equity in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) of Subsidiaries		2,704		3,339
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)		14,614		66,470
Comprehensive Income (Loss)		50,339		131,074
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests		2,381		2,213
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated		47,958		128,861
Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries including Canada Company [Member] | Reportable legal entities
Consolidating financial statements
Revenues	423,276		843,519
Intercompany	4,305		8,796
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization) and Selling, general and administrative	282,655		569,552
Intercompany	1,216		2,421
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(87)		(127)
Operating Expenses:
Depreciation and Amortization	60,018		118,117
Loss (Gain) on Disposal/Write-down of Property, Plant and Equipment (Excluding Real Estate), net	(84)		(858)
Total Operating Expenses	343,805		689,232
Operating Income (Loss)	79,471		154,287
Interest Expense (Income), Net	48,789		97,982
Other (Income) Expense, Net	(28,398)		(8,650)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes and Gain on Sale of Real Estate	59,080		64,955
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes	13,896		21,776
Equity in the (Earnings) Losses of Subsidiaries, Net of Tax	0		0
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations	45,184		43,179
Net income (loss)	45,097		43,052
Less: Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	142		610
Net income (loss) attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	44,955		42,442
Net income (loss)	45,097		43,052
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments	(149,429)		(112,143)
Change in Fair Value of Interest Rate Swap Agreements	0
Equity in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) of Subsidiaries	0		0
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(149,429)		(112,143)
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(104,332)		(69,091)
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	(3,274)		(1,247)
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	(101,058)		(67,844)
Canada Company | Reportable legal entities
Consolidating financial statements
Revenues		47,587		95,643
Intercompany		0		0
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization) and Selling, general and administrative		10,585		21,696
Intercompany		15,059		30,795
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax		0		0
Operating Expenses:
Depreciation and Amortization		4,309		8,547
Loss (Gain) on Disposal/Write-down of Property, Plant and Equipment (Excluding Real Estate), net		4		6
Total Operating Expenses				61,044
Operating Income (Loss)		17,630		34,599
Interest Expense (Income), Net		(6,035)		5,635
Other (Income) Expense, Net		(127)		(154)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes and Gain on Sale of Real Estate		23,792		29,118
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes		10,010		6,522
Gain on Sale of Real Estate, Net of Tax		0		0
Equity in the (Earnings) Losses of Subsidiaries, Net of Tax		(363)		(520)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations		14,145		23,116
Net income (loss)		14,145		23,116
Less: Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests		0		0
Net income (loss) attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated		14,145		23,116
Net income (loss)		14,145		23,116
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments		2,704		3,339
Equity in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) of Subsidiaries		970		1,257
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)		3,674		4,596
Comprehensive Income (Loss)		17,819		27,712
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests		0		0
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated		17,819		27,712
Canada Company | Canada Company | Reportable legal entities
Operating Expenses:
Total Operating Expenses		29,957
Storage Rental And Service [Member]
Consolidating financial statements
Revenues	1,060,823	949,806	2,103,281	1,888,682
Storage Rental And Service [Member] | Eliminations
Consolidating financial statements
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Storage Rental And Service [Member] | Parent | Reportable legal entities
Consolidating financial statements
Revenues	0	0	0	0
Storage Rental And Service [Member] | Guarantors | Reportable legal entities
Consolidating financial statements
Revenues	641,852	574,211	1,268,558	1,141,771
Storage Rental And Service [Member] | Non-Guarantors | Reportable legal entities
Consolidating financial statements
Revenues		328,008		651,268
Storage Rental And Service [Member] | Non-Guarantor Subsidiaries including Canada Company [Member] | Reportable legal entities
Consolidating financial statements
Revenues	$ 418,971		$ 834,723
Storage Rental And Service [Member] | Canada Company | Reportable legal entities
Consolidating financial statements
Revenues		$ 47,587		$ 95,643