Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 1,525,651	$ 1,717,223	$ 1,448,465
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash flows from operating activities:
Gain due to Shurgard public offering		(151,616)
Gain on real estate investment sales	(341)	(37,903)	(1,421)
Assets damaged due to hurricanes			3,286
Depreciation and amortization	512,918	483,646	454,526
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated real estate entities	(69,547)	(103,495)	(75,655)
Distributions from retained earnings of unconsolidated real estate entities	73,259	109,754	53,749
Adjust for foreign currency exchange loss reflected	(7,829)	(18,117)	50,045
Share-based compensation expense	25,833	69,936	37,548
Other	7,699	(5,791)	2,346
Total adjustments	541,992	346,414	524,424
Net cash flows from operating activities	2,067,643	2,063,637	1,972,889
Cash flows from investing activities:
Payments for capital expenditures to maintain real estate facilities for: Costs incurred during the period	(175,981)	(127,966)	(111,631)
Payments for capital expenditures to maintain real estate facilities for: Costs incurred in previous periods	(11,331)	(13,005)	(8,964)
Payments for development and expansion of real estate facilities for: Costs incurred during the period	(203,331)	(281,240)	(289,238)
Payments for development and expansion of real estate facilities for: Costs incurred in previous periods	(81,351)	(58,792)	(48,055)
Acquisition of real estate facilities and intangible assets	(437,758)	(181,020)	(285,279)
Distributions in excess of retained earnings from unconsolidated real estate entities	11,630	91,927
Proceeds from sale of real estate investments	762	54,184	6,103
Net cash flows used in investing activities	(897,360)	(515,912)	(737,064)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments on notes payable	(1,920)	(1,784)	(1,701)
Issuance of notes payable, net of issuance costs	496,900		992,077
Issuance of preferred shares	1,059,156		561,177
Issuance of common shares	33,564	12,525	42,500
Redemption of preferred shares	(1,050,000)		(922,500)
Cash paid upon vesting of restricted share units	(12,162)	(12,347)	(14,092)
Acquisition of noncontrolling interests	(35,000)		(14,425)
Contributions by noncontrolling interests	4,148	1,720	2,484
Distributions paid to preferred shareholders, common shareholders and restricted share unitholders	(1,608,749)	(1,612,680)	(1,630,347)
Distributions paid to noncontrolling interests	(6,672)	(7,022)	(7,392)
Net cash flows used in financing activities	(1,120,735)	(1,619,588)	(992,219)
Net cash flows from operating, investing and financing activities	49,548	(71,863)	243,606
Net effect of foreign exchange translation	(13)	(171)	(126)
Increase (decrease) in cash and equivalents, including restricted cash	49,535	(72,034)	243,480
Cash and equivalents, including restricted cash at beginning of the period:
Cash and equivalents	361,218	433,376	183,688
Restricted cash included in other assets	22,801	22,677	28,885
Cash, equivalents, and restricted cash	384,019	456,053	212,573
Cash and equivalents, including restricted cash at end of the period:
Cash and equivalents	409,743	361,218	433,376
Restricted cash included in other assets	23,811	22,801	22,677
Cash, equivalents, and restricted cash	433,554	384,019	456,053
Costs incurred during the period remaining unpaid at period end for:
Capital expenditures to maintain real estate facilities	(16,558)	(11,431)	(13,149)
Construction or expansion of real estate facilities	(32,356)	(81,157)	(60,474)
Accrued and other liabilities	48,914	92,588	73,623
Real estate acquired in exchange for assumption of notes payable	(1,817)
Notes payable assumed in connection with acquisition of real estate	1,817
Reclassification of existing investment to real estate in connection with property acquisition (Note 3):
Real estate facilities			(6,310)
Investments in unconsolidated real estate entities			6,310
Foreign currency translation adjustment:
Real estate facilities, net of accumulated depreciation		203	(659)
Investments in unconsolidated real estate entities	830	15,997	(19,370)
Notes payable	(7,842)	(18,285)	49,906
Accumulated other comprehensive gain (loss)	$ 6,999	$ 1,914	$ (30,003)