Selected Consolidated Financial Statements of Parent, Guarantors, Canada Company and Non-Guarantors (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Sep. 30, 2013	Jul. 31, 2013 item	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Consolidating financial statements
Percentage of subsidiaries owned	100.00%
Current Assets:
Cash and Cash Equivalents	$ 172,031		$ 243,415	$ 334,583	$ 179,845
Restricted Cash	33,613		33,612
Accounts Receivable	614,649		572,200
Other Current Assets	122,185		174,865
Total Current Assets	942,478		1,024,092
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	2,505,982		2,477,727
Other Assets, Net:
Goodwill	2,376,081		2,334,759
Other	556,238		521,761
Total Other Assets, Net	2,932,319		2,856,520
Total Assets	6,380,779		6,358,339	6,327,575
Liabilities and Equity
Current Portion of Long-term Debt	51,533		92,887
Total Other Current Liabilities	776,967		812,066
Long-term Debt, Net of Current Portion	3,973,799		3,732,116
Other Long-term Liabilities	506,314		558,822
Commitments and Contingencies (See Note 8)
Total Iron Mountain Incorporated Stockholders' Equity	1,058,720		1,149,971
Noncontrolling Interests	13,446		12,477
Total Equity	1,072,166		1,162,448	1,299,125	1,254,256
Total Liabilities and Equity	6,380,779		6,358,339
Eliminations
Current Assets:
Intercompany Receivable	(861,043)		(1,055,593)
Other Current Assets	(39)		(65)
Total Current Assets	(861,082)		(1,055,658)
Other Assets, Net:
Long-term Notes Receivable from Affiliates and Intercompany Receivable	(1,549,987)		(1,074,785)
Investment in Subsidiaries	(3,220,607)		(3,962,535)
Other	(114)		(114)
Total Other Assets, Net	(4,770,708)		(5,037,434)
Total Assets	(5,631,790)		(6,093,092)
Liabilities and Equity
Intercompany Payable	(861,043)		(1,055,593)
Current Portion of Long-term Debt	(39)		(65)
Long-term Notes Payable to Affiliates and Intercompany Payable	(1,549,987)		(1,074,785)
Other Long-term Liabilities	(114)		(114)
Total Iron Mountain Incorporated Stockholders' Equity	(3,220,607)		(3,962,535)
Total Equity	(3,220,607)		(3,962,535)
Total Liabilities and Equity	(5,631,790)		(6,093,092)
Parent | Reportable legal entities
Current Assets:
Cash and Cash Equivalents				40,000	3,428
Restricted Cash	33,613		33,612
Intercompany Receivable	861,043		1,055,593
Other Current Assets	48		48
Total Current Assets	894,704		1,089,253
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	1,049		1,305
Other Assets, Net:
Long-term Notes Receivable from Affiliates and Intercompany Receivable	1,546,227		1,070,930
Investment in Subsidiaries	1,689,522		1,941,540
Other	38,877		37,909
Total Other Assets, Net	3,274,626		3,050,379
Total Assets	4,170,379		4,140,937
Liabilities and Equity
Total Other Current Liabilities	112,788		111,536
Long-term Debt, Net of Current Portion	2,997,075		2,876,317
Long-term Notes Payable to Affiliates and Intercompany Payable	1,000		1,000
Other Long-term Liabilities	796		2,113
Total Iron Mountain Incorporated Stockholders' Equity	1,058,720		1,149,971
Total Equity	1,058,720		1,149,971
Total Liabilities and Equity	4,170,379		4,140,937
Guarantors | Reportable legal entities
Current Assets:
Cash and Cash Equivalents	6,341		13,472	106,994	10,750
Accounts Receivable	360,725		338,455
Other Current Assets	67,753		121,933
Total Current Assets	434,819		473,860
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	1,506,570		1,500,309
Other Assets, Net:
Long-term Notes Receivable from Affiliates and Intercompany Receivable	1,000		1,000
Investment in Subsidiaries	1,433,080		1,688,000
Goodwill	1,547,031		1,536,964
Other	269,634		261,950
Total Other Assets, Net	3,250,745		3,487,914
Total Assets	5,192,134		5,462,083
Liabilities and Equity
Intercompany Payable	741,420		942,547
Current Portion of Long-term Debt	27,907		70,870
Total Other Current Liabilities	433,517		469,249
Long-term Debt, Net of Current Portion	472,707		568,205
Long-term Notes Payable to Affiliates and Intercompany Payable	1,488,708		1,066,823
Other Long-term Liabilities	356,378		417,972
Total Iron Mountain Incorporated Stockholders' Equity	1,671,497		1,926,417
Total Equity	1,671,497		1,926,417
Total Liabilities and Equity	5,192,134		5,462,083
Canada Company | Reportable legal entities
Consolidating financial statements
Number of wholly owned entities into which assets and liabilities were contributed		2
Current Assets:
Cash and Cash Equivalents	240		103,346	85,334	69,945
Accounts Receivable	40,789		45,623
Other Current Assets	3,491		6,871
Total Current Assets	44,520		155,840
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	178,488		187,286
Other Assets, Net:
Long-term Notes Receivable from Affiliates and Intercompany Receivable	2,760		2,855
Investment in Subsidiaries	32,860		29,831
Goodwill	193,376		200,250
Other	11,763		10,686
Total Other Assets, Net	240,759		243,622
Total Assets	463,767		586,748
Liabilities and Equity
Intercompany Payable	4,156		3,310
Total Other Current Liabilities	35,417		26,836
Long-term Debt, Net of Current Portion	289,807		183,505
Other Long-term Liabilities	36,382		40,102
Total Iron Mountain Incorporated Stockholders' Equity	98,005		332,995
Total Equity	98,005		332,995
Total Liabilities and Equity	463,767		586,748
Non-Guarantors | Reportable legal entities
Current Assets:
Cash and Cash Equivalents	165,450		126,597	102,255	95,722
Accounts Receivable	213,135		188,122
Other Current Assets	50,932		46,078
Total Current Assets	429,517		360,797
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net	819,875		788,827
Other Assets, Net:
Investment in Subsidiaries	65,145		303,164
Goodwill	635,674		597,545
Other	236,078		211,330
Total Other Assets, Net	936,897		1,112,039
Total Assets	2,186,289		2,261,663
Liabilities and Equity
Intercompany Payable	115,467		109,736
Current Portion of Long-term Debt	23,665		22,082
Total Other Current Liabilities	195,245		204,445
Long-term Debt, Net of Current Portion	214,210		104,089
Long-term Notes Payable to Affiliates and Intercompany Payable	60,279		6,962
Other Long-term Liabilities	112,872		98,749
Total Iron Mountain Incorporated Stockholders' Equity	1,451,105		1,703,123
Noncontrolling Interests	13,446		12,477
Total Equity	1,464,551		1,715,600
Total Liabilities and Equity	$ 2,186,289		$ 2,261,663