Selected Consolidated Financial Statements of Parent, Guarantors, Canada Company and Non-Guarantors - Statements of Operations (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Consolidating financial statements
Revenues	$ 1,053,863	$ 1,042,458
Intercompany	0	0
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	461,544	448,721
Intercompany	0	0
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(24)	(462)
Operating Expenses:
Selling, General and Administrative	270,559	269,730
Depreciation and Amortization	162,483	160,578
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Assets and Asset Impairment Charges	602	(1,130)
Total Operating Expenses	895,188	877,899
Operating Income (Loss)	158,675	164,559
Interest Expense (Income), Net	102,436	97,626
Other (Income) Expense, Net	15,210	20,151
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes	41,029	46,782
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes	10,553	1,168
Equity in the (Earnings) Losses of Subsidiaries, Net of Tax	0	0
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations	30,476	45,614
Net income (loss)	30,452	45,152
Less: Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	891	468
Net income (loss) attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	29,561	44,684
Net income (loss)	30,452	45,152
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment	18,191	31,651
Change in Fair Value of Interest Rate Swap Agreements	(2,674)	(185)
Equity in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) of Subsidiaries	0	0
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	15,517	31,466
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	45,969	76,618
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	1,704	2,027
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	44,265	74,591
Eliminations
Consolidating financial statements
Revenues	(6,077)	(5,696)
Intercompany	(6,077)	(5,696)
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	0	0
Intercompany	(6,077)	(5,696)
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0
Operating Expenses:
Selling, General and Administrative	0	0
Depreciation and Amortization	0	0
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Assets and Asset Impairment Charges	0	0
Total Operating Expenses	(6,077)	(5,696)
Operating Income (Loss)	0	0
Interest Expense (Income), Net	0	0
Other (Income) Expense, Net	0	0
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes	0	0
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes	0	0
Equity in the (Earnings) Losses of Subsidiaries, Net of Tax	75,320	90,679
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations	(75,320)	(90,679)
Net income (loss)	(75,320)	(90,679)
Less: Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	(75,320)	(90,679)
Net income (loss)	(75,320)	(90,679)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment	0	0
Change in Fair Value of Interest Rate Swap Agreements	0	0
Equity in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) of Subsidiaries	(18,393)	(74,068)
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(18,393)	(74,068)
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	(93,713)	(164,747)
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	0	0
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	(93,713)	(164,747)
Parent | Reportable legal entities
Consolidating financial statements
Revenues	0	0
Intercompany	0	0
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	0	0
Intercompany	0	0
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	0
Operating Expenses:
Selling, General and Administrative	87	43
Depreciation and Amortization	23	33
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Assets and Asset Impairment Charges	0	0
Total Operating Expenses	110	76
Operating Income (Loss)	(110)	(76)
Interest Expense (Income), Net	49,625	49,941
Other (Income) Expense, Net	182	(1,157)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes	(49,917)	(48,860)
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes	0	0
Equity in the (Earnings) Losses of Subsidiaries, Net of Tax	(79,478)	(93,544)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations	29,561	44,684
Net income (loss)	29,561	44,684
Less: Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	29,561	44,684
Net income (loss)	29,561	44,684
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment	6,141	(5,635)
Change in Fair Value of Interest Rate Swap Agreements	(2,674)	(185)
Equity in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) of Subsidiaries	11,237	35,732
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	14,704	29,912
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	44,265	74,596
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	0	0
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	44,265	74,596
Guarantors | Reportable legal entities
Consolidating financial statements
Revenues	644,588	627,911
Intercompany	1,154	1,205
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	263,137	246,163
Intercompany	4,923	4,491
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	(24)	(422)
Operating Expenses:
Selling, General and Administrative	187,822	185,348
Depreciation and Amortization	102,954	102,446
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Assets and Asset Impairment Charges	(574)	356
Total Operating Expenses	559,410	538,092
Operating Income (Loss)	85,178	89,819
Interest Expense (Income), Net	4,057	(1,508)
Other (Income) Expense, Net	527	1,560
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes	80,594	89,767
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes	1,301	(6,712)
Equity in the (Earnings) Losses of Subsidiaries, Net of Tax	4,158	2,865
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations	75,135	93,614
Net income (loss)	75,111	93,192
Less: Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	0	0
Net income (loss) attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	75,111	93,192
Net income (loss)	75,111	93,192
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment	0	0
Change in Fair Value of Interest Rate Swap Agreements	0	0
Equity in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) of Subsidiaries	7,156	38,336
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	7,156	38,336
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	82,267	131,528
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	0	0
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	82,267	131,528
Non-Guarantors | Reportable legal entities
Consolidating financial statements
Revenues	415,352	420,243
Intercompany	4,923	4,491
Cost of sales (excluding depreciation and amortization)	198,407	202,558
Intercompany	1,154	1,205
Income (loss) from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(40)
Operating Expenses:
Selling, General and Administrative	82,650	84,339
Depreciation and Amortization	59,506	58,099
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Assets and Asset Impairment Charges	(28)	774
Total Operating Expenses	341,745	345,427
Operating Income (Loss)	73,607	74,816
Interest Expense (Income), Net	48,754	(49,193)
Other (Income) Expense, Net	14,501	19,748
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations Before Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes	10,352	5,875
Provision (Benefit) for Income Taxes	9,252	7,880
Equity in the (Earnings) Losses of Subsidiaries, Net of Tax	0	0
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations	1,100	(2,005)
Net income (loss)	1,100	(2,045)
Less: Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	891	468
Net income (loss) attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	209	(2,513)
Net income (loss)	1,100	(2,045)
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss):
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustment	12,050	37,286
Change in Fair Value of Interest Rate Swap Agreements	0	0
Equity in Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) of Subsidiaries	0	0
Total Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	12,050	37,286
Comprehensive Income (Loss)	13,150	35,241
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Noncontrolling Interests	1,704	2,027
Comprehensive Income (Loss) Attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	11,446	33,214
Storage Rental And Service [Member]
Consolidating financial statements
Revenues	662,974	651,149
Storage Rental And Service [Member] | Eliminations
Consolidating financial statements
Revenues		0
Storage Rental And Service [Member] | Parent | Reportable legal entities
Consolidating financial statements
Revenues		0
Storage Rental And Service [Member] | Guarantors | Reportable legal entities
Consolidating financial statements
Revenues	403,741	396,476
Storage rental
Consolidating financial statements
Revenues	662,974	651,149
Storage rental | Eliminations
Consolidating financial statements
Revenues	0
Storage rental | Non-Guarantors | Reportable legal entities
Consolidating financial statements
Revenues	259,233	254,673
Service
Consolidating financial statements
Revenues	390,889	391,309
Service | Eliminations
Consolidating financial statements
Revenues	0	0
Service | Parent | Reportable legal entities
Consolidating financial statements
Revenues	0	0
Service | Guarantors | Reportable legal entities
Consolidating financial statements
Revenues	239,693	230,230
Service | Non-Guarantors | Reportable legal entities
Consolidating financial statements
Revenues	$ 151,196	$ 161,079