Selected Consolidated Financial Statements of Parent, Guarantors, Canada Company and Non-Guarantors (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Consolidating financial statements
Percentage of noncontrolling interest owned	100.00%
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 229,999	$ 243,415	$ 178,293	$ 179,845
Restricted cash	33,613	33,612
Accounts Receivable	571,402	572,200
Other Current Assets	166,122	174,865
Total Current Assets	1,001,136	1,024,092
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	2,478,111	2,477,727
Other Assets, net:
Goodwill	2,308,720	2,334,759
Other	510,213	521,761
Total Other Assets, net	2,818,933	2,856,520
Total Assets	6,298,180	6,358,339	6,086,622
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current Portion of Long-term Debt	91,853	92,887
Total Other Current Liabilities	752,725	812,066
Long-term Debt, Net of Current Portion	3,757,853	3,732,116
Other Long-term Liabilities	567,672	558,822
Commitments and Contingencies (see Note 7)
Total Iron Mountain Incorporated Stockholders' Equity	1,114,555	1,149,971
Noncontrolling Interests	13,522	12,477
Total Equity	1,128,077	1,162,448	1,268,803	1,254,256
Total Liabilities and Equity	6,298,180	6,358,339
Parent
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents			71	3,428
Restricted cash	33,613	33,612
Intercompany Receivable	970,671	1,055,593
Other Current Assets	5,586	48
Total Current Assets	1,009,870	1,089,253
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	1,257	1,305
Other Assets, net:
Long-term Notes Receivable from Affiliates and Intercompany Receivable	1,117,769	1,070,930
Investment in Subsidiaries	1,914,555	1,941,540
Other	36,350	37,909
Total Other Assets, net	3,068,674	3,050,379
Total Assets	4,079,801	4,140,937
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Total Other Current Liabilities	108,748	111,536
Long-term Debt, Net of Current Portion	2,851,775	2,876,317
Long-term Notes Payable to Affiliates and Intercompany Payable	1,000	1,000
Other Long-term Liabilities	3,723	2,113
Total Iron Mountain Incorporated Stockholders' Equity	1,114,555	1,149,971
Total Equity	1,114,555	1,149,971
Total Liabilities and Equity	4,079,801	4,140,937
Guarantors
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	4,132	13,472	8,052	10,750
Accounts Receivable	340,333	338,455
Other Current Assets	118,088	121,933
Total Current Assets	462,553	473,860
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	1,512,150	1,500,309
Other Assets, net:
Long-term Notes Receivable from Affiliates and Intercompany Receivable	1,000	1,000
Investment in Subsidiaries	1,659,857	1,688,000
Goodwill	1,537,154	1,536,964
Other	259,214	261,950
Total Other Assets, net	3,457,225	3,487,914
Total Assets	5,431,928	5,462,083
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Intercompany Payable	859,754	942,547
Current Portion of Long-term Debt	71,560	70,870
Total Other Current Liabilities	446,051	469,249
Long-term Debt, Net of Current Portion	613,472	568,205
Long-term Notes Payable to Affiliates and Intercompany Payable	1,114,241	1,066,823
Other Long-term Liabilities	428,576	417,972
Total Iron Mountain Incorporated Stockholders' Equity	1,898,274	1,926,417
Total Equity	1,898,274	1,926,417
Total Liabilities and Equity	5,431,928	5,462,083
Canada Company
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	97,059	103,500	68,178	68,907
Accounts Receivable	45,163	44,363
Intercompany Receivable	9,755	5,781
Other Current Assets	6,807	5,720
Total Current Assets	158,784	159,364
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	199,487	203,909
Other Assets, net:
Long-term Notes Receivable from Affiliates and Intercompany Receivable	3,593	4,136
Investment in Subsidiaries	18,769	18,422
Goodwill	197,804	202,282
Other	10,015	10,622
Total Other Assets, net	230,181	235,462
Total Assets	588,452	598,735
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current Portion of Long-term Debt	2,672	2,799
Total Other Current Liabilities	25,192	31,015
Long-term Debt, Net of Current Portion	189,429	193,181
Other Long-term Liabilities	38,784	38,745
Total Iron Mountain Incorporated Stockholders' Equity	332,375	332,995
Total Equity	332,375	332,995
Total Liabilities and Equity	588,452	598,735
Non-Guarantors
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents	128,808	126,443	101,992	96,760
Accounts Receivable	185,906	189,382
Other Current Assets	42,649	47,164
Total Current Assets	357,363	362,989
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	765,217	772,204
Other Assets, net:
Investment in Subsidiaries	313,606	314,573
Goodwill	573,762	595,513
Other	204,748	211,394
Total Other Assets, net	1,092,116	1,121,480
Total Assets	2,214,696	2,256,673
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Intercompany Payable	120,672	118,827
Current Portion of Long-term Debt	17,621	19,218
Total Other Current Liabilities	179,742	200,266
Long-term Debt, Net of Current Portion	103,177	94,413
Long-term Notes Payable to Affiliates and Intercompany Payable	7,121	8,243
Other Long-term Liabilities	96,703	100,106
Total Iron Mountain Incorporated Stockholders' Equity	1,676,138	1,703,123
Noncontrolling Interests	13,522	12,477
Total Equity	1,689,660	1,715,600
Total Liabilities and Equity	2,214,696	2,256,673
Eliminations
Current Assets:
Intercompany Receivable	(980,426)	(1,061,374)
Other Current Assets	(7,008)
Total Current Assets	(987,434)	(1,061,374)
Other Assets, net:
Long-term Notes Receivable from Affiliates and Intercompany Receivable	(1,122,362)	(1,076,066)
Investment in Subsidiaries	(3,906,787)	(3,962,535)
Other	(114)	(114)
Total Other Assets, net	(5,029,263)	(5,038,715)
Total Assets	(6,016,697)	(6,100,089)
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Intercompany Payable	(980,426)	(1,061,374)
Total Other Current Liabilities	(7,008)
Long-term Notes Payable to Affiliates and Intercompany Payable	(1,122,362)	(1,076,066)
Other Long-term Liabilities	(114)	(114)
Total Iron Mountain Incorporated Stockholders' Equity	(3,906,787)	(3,962,535)
Total Equity	(3,906,787)	(3,962,535)
Total Liabilities and Equity	$ (6,016,697)	$ (6,100,089)