The amount of purchase price which was deposited in escrow.

No definition available.

Name:	irm_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityPortionDepositedInEscrow
Namespace Prefix:	irm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The total cost of the acquired entity, net of cash acquired.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	irm_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityPurchasePriceNetOfCashAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	irm_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Percentage of previously held ownership interest.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	irm_BusinessAcquisitionPercentageOfOwnershipAcquired
Namespace Prefix:	irm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the control premium paid expressed as a percentage of ownership interest.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	irm_ControlPremiumPaidAsPercentageOfOwnershipInterest
Namespace Prefix:	irm_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Represents the number of annual installments in which any escrow amount not distributed to sellers or Company will be released to the sellers.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	irm_NumberOfAnnualInstallmentsInWhichEscrowAmountNotDistributedToSellersOrCompanyWillBeReleasedToSellers
Namespace Prefix:	irm_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Represents the period from the closing date after which amount not distributed to sellers or Company will be released to sellers.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	irm_PeriodFromClosingDateAfterWhichEscrowAmountNotDistributedToSellersOrCompanyWillBeReleasedToSellers
Namespace Prefix:	irm_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of cash paid to acquire the entity.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141R

-Paragraph 68

-Subparagraph f(1)

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 51

-Subparagraph d

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityCashPaid
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The total cost of the acquired entity including the cash paid to shareholders of acquired entities, fair value of debt and equity securities issued to shareholders of acquired entities, the fair value of the liabilities assumed, and direct costs of the acquisition.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141

-Paragraph 51

-Subparagraph d

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionCostOfAcquiredEntityPurchasePrice
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

In a business combination achieved in stages, this element represents the amount of gain recognized by the entity as a result of remeasuring to fair value the equity interest in the acquiree it held before the business combination.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

-Section 50

-Paragraph 2

-Subparagraph (g)(2)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7659399&loc=d3e1392-128463

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

This item represents the carrying amount on the entity's balance sheet of its investment in common stock of an equity method investee. This is not an indicator of the fair value of the investment, rather it is the initial cost adjusted for the entity's share of earnings and losses of the investee, adjusted for any distributions (dividends) and other than temporary impairment (OTTI) losses recognized.

+ References

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

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 210

-SubTopic 10

-Section S99

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.12)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 45

-Paragraph 1

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=16385135&loc=d3e33749-111570

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_EquityMethodInvestments
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

This element represents the portion of the balance sheet assertion valued at fair value by the entity whether such amount is presented as a separate caption or as a parenthetical disclosure. Additionally, this element may be used in connection with the fair value disclosures required in the footnote disclosures to the financial statements. The element may be used in both the balance sheet and disclosure in the same submission. This item represents investments accounted for under the equity method of accounting as of the balance sheet date.

+ References

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

-Publisher AICPA

-Name Accounting Principles Board Opinion (APB)

-Number 18

-Paragraph 6

-Subparagraph b

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 323

-SubTopic 10

-Section 25

-Paragraph 2

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6903542&loc=d3e32014-111567

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

Acquisitions (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified		3 Months Ended			1 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012 Switzerland acquisition	Sep. 30, 2012 Switzerland acquisition	May 31, 2012 Switzerland acquisition	Apr. 30, 2012 Grupo Store installment
Business Acquisition
Purchase price	$ 117,864				$ 79,000
Purchase price, net of cash acquired					75,000
Portion of purchase price for acquisition that was deposited in escrow					8,000
Number of annual installments in which any escrow amount not distributed to sellers or Company will be released to the sellers					4
Period from closing date after which amount not distributed to sellers or IMI will be released to sellers					2 years
Cash Paid for Business acquired	112,599			21,600
Percentage of previously held ownership interest				15.00%
Equity method of investment				1,700
Fair value of such interest on the date of acquisition	4,265		2,700	2,700
Gain on the transaction to other income (expense), net		$ 1,000
Control premium paid (as a percent)				30.00%