Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details 6) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013 item	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012 item
Income (Loss) Per Share-Basic and Diluted
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations	$ 18,350	$ 61,073
Total (loss) income from discontinued operations (see Note 9)	2,184	(5,093)
Net income (loss) attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	19,386	55,350
Weighted-average shares-basic	190,213,000	171,320,000
Effect of dilutive potential stock options (in shares)	1,395,106	720,788
Effect of dilutive potential restricted stock, RSUs and PUs (in shares)	501,974	181,867
Weighted-average shares-diluted	192,110,000	172,223,000
Earnings (Losses) per share-basic:
Income (Loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.36
Total (loss) income from discontinued operations (see Note 9) (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ (0.03)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.32
Earnings (Losses) per share-diluted:
Income (Loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.35
Total (loss) income from discontinued operations (see Note 9) (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ (0.03)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated (in dollars per share)	$ 0.10	$ 0.32
Antidilutive stock options, RSUs and PUs, excluded from the calculation (in shares)	260,298	2,045,616
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts and Credit Memo Reserves
The general period to charge-off uncollectible balances of receivable, as circumstances warrant, is no later than this period of time past due	1 year
Income Taxes:
Effective tax rates (as a percent)	67.80%	29.30%
Federal statutory tax rate (as a percent)	35.00%	35.00%
Increase (decrease) in effective income tax rate (as a percent)	22.50%	(8.90%)
Discrete tax benefit attributable to the exception of certain foreign earnings from U.S. federal taxation	4,025
Increase (reduction) in gross interest and penalties recorded	545	(249)
Accrued interest and penalties recorded	4,059		3,554
Book over tax outside basis differences related to Canadian subsidiaries			577
Reclassification of long-term deferred income tax liabilities	10,329
Concentrations of Credit Risk
Number of global banks with cash, cash equivalent and restricted cash held on deposit	5		5
Number of "Triple A" rated money market funds with cash, cash equivalent and restricted cash held on deposit	2		2
Maximum investment limit in any one mutual fund	50,000
Maximum investment limit in any one financial institution	75,000
Cash, cash equivalent and restricted cash	263,612		277,027
Money market funds and time deposits	$ 209,723		$ 218,629