Summary of Significant Accounting Policies (Details 6) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013 item	Mar. 31, 2013	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2013 item	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2012 item
Income (Loss) Per Share-Basic and Diluted
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations	$ 5,528		$ 53,719	$ 51,416	$ 156,233
Total income (loss) from discontinued operations (see Note 10)	(571)		32	1,515	(7,585)
Net income (loss) attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated	4,047		52,809	49,997	146,214
Weighted-average shares-basic	191,332,000		171,776,000	190,789,000	171,464,000
Effect of dilutive potential stock options (in shares)	597,275		950,922	1,109,935	808,365
Effect of dilutive potential restricted stock, RSUs and PUs (in shares)	338,617		320,537	416,231	227,899
Weighted-average shares-diluted	192,268,000		173,047,000	192,315,000	172,500,000
Earnings (Losses) per share-basic:
Income (Loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.03		$ 0.31	$ 0.27	$ 0.91
Total income (loss) income discontinued operations (see Note 10) (in dollars per share)				$ 0.01	$ (0.04)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated (in dollars per share)	$ 0.02		$ 0.31	$ 0.26	$ 0.85
Earnings (Losses) per share-diluted:
Income (Loss) from continuing operations (in dollars per share)	$ 0.03		$ 0.31	$ 0.27	$ 0.91
Total income (loss) from discontinued operations (see Note 10) (in dollars per share)				$ 0.01	$ (0.04)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Iron Mountain Incorporated (in dollars per share)	$ 0.02		$ 0.31	$ 0.26	$ 0.85
Antidilutive stock options, RSUs and PUs, excluded from the calculation (in shares)	2,014,108		821,862	864,521	1,584,179
Allowance for Doubtful Accounts and Credit Memo Reserves
The general period to charge-off uncollectible balances of receivable, as circumstances warrant, is no later than this period of time past due				1 year
Income Taxes:
Effective tax rates (as a percent)	81.50%		36.70%	63.40%	40.30%
Federal statutory tax rate (as a percent)	35.00%		35.00%	35.00%	35.00%
Increase (decrease) in effective income tax rate (as a percent)	(47.00%)		(5.60%)		(1.20%)
Increase in the effective tax rate due to planned repatriation (as a percent)	87.10%			18.50%
Increase in the effective tax rate due to non-deductible expense transaction costs related to the potential conversion to real estate investment trust (REIT) (as a percent)	10.10%			4.70%
Discrete tax benefit attributable to the exception of certain foreign earnings from U.S. federal taxation		4,025
Income tax period for amount after calculating cumulative effect of the changes on prior years, expected to be included in the determination of taxable income				4 years
Increase in gross interest and penalties recorded	1,014		922	1,735	920
Accrued interest and penalties recorded	5,225			5,225		3,554
Foreign earnings repatriated to utilize both current and carryforward foreign tax credits	253,000
Foreign earnings repatriated to utilize both current and carryforward foreign tax credits of which U.S. taxes were previously paid	53,000
Increase in tax provision from continuing operations resulting from foreign tax credit carryforwards	71,400
Decrease in tax provision from current year foreign tax credits	23,500
Reversal of valuation allowances related to foreign tax credit carryforwards	21,900
Net increase in tax provision from continuing operations	26,000
Reclassification of long-term deferred income tax liabilities	27,500			27,500
Concentrations of Credit Risk
Number of global banks with cash, cash equivalent and restricted cash held on deposit	2			2		5
Number of "Triple A" rated money market funds with cash, cash equivalent and restricted cash held on deposit	4			4		2
Maximum investment limit in any one mutual fund				50,000
Maximum investment limit in any one financial institution				75,000
Cash, cash equivalent and restricted cash	205,644			205,644		277,027
Money market funds and time deposits	$ 79,360			$ 79,360		$ 218,629