Cover page - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Nov. 09, 2020
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-14765
Entity Registrant Name	HERSHA HOSPITALITY TRUST
Entity Incorporation, State	MD
Entity Tax Identification Number	25-1811499
Entity Address, Street	44 Hersha Drive
Entity Address, City	Harrisburg
Entity Address, State	PA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	17102
City Area Code	717
Local Phone Number	236-4400
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth Company	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Central Index Key	0001063344
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Class A Common Shares
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of each class	Class A Common Shares of Beneficial Interest, par value $.01 per share
Trading Symbol(s)	HT
Name of each exchange on which registered	NYSE
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		38,843,482
Series C Preferred Shares
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of each class	6.875% Series C Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest, par $.01 per share
Trading Symbol(s)	HT-PC
Name of each exchange on which registered	NYSE
Series D Preferred Shares
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of each class	6.500% Series D Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest, par $.01 per share
Trading Symbol(s)	HT-PD
Name of each exchange on which registered	NYSE
Series E Preferred Shares
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of each class	6.500% Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Shares of Beneficial Interest, par $.01 per share
Trading Symbol(s)	HT-PE
Name of each exchange on which registered	NYSE
Class B Common Shares
Entity Information [Line Items]
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding (in shares)		0