Description Of The Business (Details)	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011
Public Storage [Member]
Schedule Of Geographical Segment [Line Items]
PSA self-storage facilities	2,058
Net rentable square feet	131,000,000
Number of states with facilities	38
PSB [Member]
Schedule Of Geographical Segment [Line Items]
Net rentable square feet	28,900,000
Number of states with facilities	11
Ownership interest, percentage	42.00%
Western Europe [Member]
Schedule Of Geographical Segment [Line Items]
Direct interest in self-storage facilities, number of countries	7
Shurgard Europe [Member]
Schedule Of Geographical Segment [Line Items]
Net rentable square feet	10,100,000
Number of facilities owned by Shurgard Europe	188
Ownership interest, percentage	49.00%
London [Member]
Schedule Of Geographical Segment [Line Items]
Owned self-storage facilities	1