Public Storage Shareholders' Equity (Cumulative Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified			6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	0 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended	2 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011	Dec. 31, 2010	Jun. 30, 2011 Series W Preferred Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Series W Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Series X Preferred Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Series X Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Series Y Preferred Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Series Y Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Series Z Preferred Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Series Z Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Series A Preferred Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Series A Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Series C Preferred Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Series C Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Series D Preferred Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Series D Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Series E Preferred Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Series E Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Series F Preferred Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Series F Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Series G Preferred Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Series G Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Series H Preferred Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Series H Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Series I Preferred Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Series I Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Series K Preferred Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Series K Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Series L Preferred Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Series L Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Series M Preferred Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Series M Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Series N Preferred Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Series N Preferred Stock [Member]	Apr. 13, 2010 Series O Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Series O Preferred Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Series O Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Series P Preferred Stock [Member]	Dec. 31, 2010 Series P Preferred Stock [Member]	May 31, 2011 Series Q Preferred Stock [Member]	Jun. 30, 2011 Series Q Preferred Stock [Member]
Earliest redemption date			Oct. 06, 2008		Nov. 13, 2008		Jan. 02, 2009		Mar. 05, 2009		Mar. 31, 2009		Sep. 13, 2009		Feb. 28, 2010		Apr. 27, 2010		Aug. 23, 2010		Dec. 12, 2010		Jan. 19, 2011		May 03, 2011		Aug. 08, 2011		Oct. 20, 2011		Jan. 09, 2012		Jul. 02, 2012			Apr. 15, 2015		Oct. 07, 2015			Apr. 14, 2016
Dividend Rate %			6.50%		6.45%		6.85%		6.25%		6.125%		6.60%		6.18%		6.75%		6.45%		7.00%		6.95%		7.25%		7.25%		6.75%		6.625%		7.00%		6.875%	6.875%		6.50%		6.50%	6.50%
Shares Outstanding	480,690	486,390	5,300	5,300	4,800	4,800	350,900	350,900	4,500	4,500	4,600	4,600	4,425	4,425	5,400	5,400	5,650	5,650	9,893	9,893	4,000	4,000	4,200	4,200		20,700	16,990	16,990	8,267	8,267	19,065	19,065	6,900	6,900		5,800	5,800	5,000	5,000		15,000
Liquidation Preference			$ 132,500	$ 132,500	$ 120,000	$ 120,000	$ 8,772	$ 8,772	$ 112,500	$ 112,500	$ 115,000	$ 115,000	$ 110,625	$ 110,625	$ 135,000	$ 135,000	$ 141,250	$ 141,250	$ 247,325	$ 247,325	$ 100,000	$ 100,000	$ 105,000	$ 105,000		$ 517,500	$ 424,756	$ 424,756	$ 206,665	$ 206,665	$ 476,634	$ 476,634	$ 172,500	$ 172,500		$ 145,000	$ 145,000	$ 125,000	$ 125,000		$ 375,000