Selected Consolidated Financial Statements of Parent, Guarantors, Canada Company and Non-Guarantors (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Jul. 31, 2013 item	Jun. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Consolidating financial statements
Percentage of noncontrolling interest owned		100.00%
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		$ 258,866	$ 243,415	$ 170,230	$ 179,845
Restricted cash		33,613	33,612
Accounts Receivable		581,481	572,200
Other Current Assets		172,022	174,865
Total Current Assets		1,045,982	1,024,092
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net		2,452,309	2,477,727
Other Assets, net:
Goodwill		2,317,157	2,334,759
Other		519,371	521,761
Total Other Assets, net		2,836,528	2,856,520
Total Assets		6,334,819	6,358,339	6,087,212
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current Portion of Long-term Debt		324,682	92,887
Total Other Current Liabilities		748,243	812,066
Long-term Debt, Net of Current Portion		3,614,018	3,732,116
Other Long-term Liabilities		554,337	558,822
Commitments and Contingencies (see Note 8)
Total Iron Mountain Incorporated Stockholders' Equity		1,080,273	1,149,971
Noncontrolling Interests		13,266	12,477
Total Equity		1,093,539	1,162,448	1,250,324	1,254,256
Total Liabilities and Equity		6,334,819	6,358,339
Parent
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents					3,428
Restricted cash		33,613	33,612
Intercompany Receivable		892,125	1,055,593
Other Current Assets		1,512	48
Total Current Assets		927,250	1,089,253
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net		1,209	1,305
Other Assets, net:
Long-term Notes Receivable from Affiliates and Intercompany Receivable		1,175,843	1,070,930
Investment in Subsidiaries		1,912,854	1,941,540
Other		34,948	37,909
Total Other Assets, net		3,123,645	3,050,379
Total Assets		4,052,104	4,140,937
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current Portion of Long-term Debt		228,180
Total Other Current Liabilities		110,931	111,536
Long-term Debt, Net of Current Portion		2,628,790	2,876,317
Long-term Notes Payable to Affiliates and Intercompany Payable		1,000	1,000
Other Long-term Liabilities		2,930	2,113
Total Iron Mountain Incorporated Stockholders' Equity		1,080,273	1,149,971
Total Equity		1,080,273	1,149,971
Total Liabilities and Equity		4,052,104	4,140,937
Guarantors
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		4,152	13,472	11,479	10,750
Accounts Receivable		346,133	338,455
Other Current Assets		123,934	121,933
Total Current Assets		474,219	473,860
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net		1,512,925	1,500,309
Other Assets, net:
Long-term Notes Receivable from Affiliates and Intercompany Receivable		1,000	1,000
Investment in Subsidiaries		1,657,184	1,688,000
Goodwill		1,546,977	1,536,964
Other		269,523	261,950
Total Other Assets, net		3,474,684	3,487,914
Total Assets		5,461,828	5,462,083
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Intercompany Payable		777,743	942,547
Current Portion of Long-term Debt		77,808	70,870
Total Other Current Liabilities		442,275	469,249
Long-term Debt, Net of Current Portion		676,565	568,205
Long-term Notes Payable to Affiliates and Intercompany Payable		1,172,374	1,066,823
Other Long-term Liabilities		419,462	417,972
Total Iron Mountain Incorporated Stockholders' Equity		1,895,601	1,926,417
Total Equity		1,895,601	1,926,417
Total Liabilities and Equity		5,461,828	5,462,083
Canada Company
Consolidating financial statements
Number of wholly owned entities into which assets and liabilities were contributed	2
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		107,684	103,500	78,636	68,907
Accounts Receivable		45,159	44,363
Intercompany Receivable		4,033	5,781
Other Current Assets		4,423	5,720
Total Current Assets		161,299	159,364
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net		191,025	203,909
Other Assets, net:
Long-term Notes Receivable from Affiliates and Intercompany Receivable		3,117	4,136
Investment in Subsidiaries		19,013	18,422
Goodwill		191,312	202,282
Other		9,459	10,622
Total Other Assets, net		222,901	235,462
Total Assets		575,225	598,735
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Current Portion of Long-term Debt		2,486	2,799
Total Other Current Liabilities		28,852	31,015
Long-term Debt, Net of Current Portion		183,453	193,181
Other Long-term Liabilities		33,478	38,745
Total Iron Mountain Incorporated Stockholders' Equity		326,956	332,995
Total Equity		326,956	332,995
Total Liabilities and Equity		575,225	598,735
Non-Guarantors
Current Assets:
Cash and cash equivalents		147,030	126,443	80,115	96,760
Accounts Receivable		190,189	189,382
Other Current Assets		42,153	47,164
Total Current Assets		379,372	362,989
Property, Plant and Equipment, Net		747,150	772,204
Other Assets, net:
Investment in Subsidiaries		307,943	314,573
Goodwill		578,868	595,513
Other		205,555	211,394
Total Other Assets, net		1,092,366	1,121,480
Total Assets		2,218,888	2,256,673
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Intercompany Payable		118,415	118,827
Current Portion of Long-term Debt		16,208	19,218
Total Other Current Liabilities		166,185	200,266
Long-term Debt, Net of Current Portion		125,210	94,413
Long-term Notes Payable to Affiliates and Intercompany Payable		6,586	8,243
Other Long-term Liabilities		98,581	100,106
Total Iron Mountain Incorporated Stockholders' Equity		1,674,437	1,703,123
Noncontrolling Interests		13,266	12,477
Total Equity		1,687,703	1,715,600
Total Liabilities and Equity		2,218,888	2,256,673
Eliminations
Current Assets:
Intercompany Receivable		(896,158)	(1,061,374)
Total Current Assets		(896,158)	(1,061,374)
Other Assets, net:
Long-term Notes Receivable from Affiliates and Intercompany Receivable		(1,179,960)	(1,076,066)
Investment in Subsidiaries		(3,896,994)	(3,962,535)
Other		(114)	(114)
Total Other Assets, net		(5,077,068)	(5,038,715)
Total Assets		(5,973,226)	(6,100,089)
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Intercompany Payable		(896,158)	(1,061,374)
Long-term Notes Payable to Affiliates and Intercompany Payable		(1,179,960)	(1,076,066)
Other Long-term Liabilities		(114)	(114)
Total Iron Mountain Incorporated Stockholders' Equity		(3,896,994)	(3,962,535)
Total Equity		(3,896,994)	(3,962,535)
Total Liabilities and Equity		$ (5,973,226)	$ (6,100,089)