Consolidated Statement of Stockholders' Equity (USD $)	Total	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Distributions	Accumulated Deficit	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss)	Noncontrolling Interests
Beginning Balance at Dec. 31, 2010	$ 176,224,923	$ 26,659	$ 211,685,569	$ (20,734,778)	$ (21,598,004)	$ 124,412	$ 6,721,065
Beginning Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2010		26,658,061
Gross proceeds from issuance of common stock (in shares)		8,401,149
Gross proceeds from issuance of common stock	83,856,253	8,401	83,847,852
Offering costs	(10,426,603)		(10,350,548)				(76,055)
Changes to redeemable common stock	634,694		634,694
Redemptions of common stock	(9,680,138)	(993)	(9,679,145)
Redemptions of common stock (in shares)		(993,301)
Issuance of restricted stock (in shares)		2,500
Issuance of restricted stock	2	2
Distributions ($0.70 per share)	(21,867,752)			(21,867,752)
Distributions for noncontrolling interests	(367,225)						(367,225)
Issuance of shares for distribution reinvestment plan (in shares)		952,152
Issuance of shares for distribution reinvestment plan	9,045,444	952	9,044,492
Issuance of limited partnership units in our Operating Partnership	930,759						930,759
Stock based compensation expense	28,643		28,643
Net loss attributable to Strategic Storage Trust, Inc.	(21,357,429)				(21,357,429)
Net income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interests in our Operating Partnership	(476,808)						(476,808)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(642,434)					(642,434)
Change in fair value of interest rate swap	(311,630)					(311,630)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2011	205,590,699	35,021	285,211,557	(42,602,530)	(42,955,433)	(829,652)	6,731,736
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2011		35,020,561
Gross proceeds from issuance of common stock (in shares)		11,235,955
Gross proceeds from issuance of common stock	113,943,394	11,236	113,932,158
Offering costs	(12,016,241)		(12,016,241)
Changes to redeemable common stock	(3,593,608)		(3,593,608)
Redemptions of common stock	(12,577,236)	(1,311)	(12,575,925)
Redemptions of common stock (in shares)		(1,310,527)
Issuance of restricted stock (in shares)		3,125
Issuance of restricted stock	3	3
Distributions ($0.70 per share)	(28,798,596)			(28,798,596)
Distributions for noncontrolling interests	(249,055)						(249,055)
Issuance of shares for distribution reinvestment plan (in shares)		1,235,628
Issuance of shares for distribution reinvestment plan	12,311,983	1,235	12,310,748
Repurchase of limited partnership units in our Operating Partnership	(396,738)		(221,335)				(175,403)
Issuance of limited partnership units in our Operating Partnership	729,218						729,218
Stock based compensation expense	24,764		24,764
Net loss attributable to Strategic Storage Trust, Inc.	(18,973,712)				(18,973,712)
Net income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interests in our Operating Partnership	(41,430)						(41,430)
Foreign currency translation adjustment	381,663					381,663
Change in fair value of interest rate swap	(234,703)					(234,703)
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2012	256,100,405	46,184	383,072,118	(71,401,126)	(61,929,145)	(682,692)	6,995,066
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2012		46,184,742
Gross proceeds from issuance of common stock (in shares)		9,881,658
Gross proceeds from issuance of common stock	106,280,662	9,882	106,270,780
Offering costs	(11,080,884)		(11,055,522)				(25,362)
Changes to redeemable common stock	7,289,885		7,289,885
Redemptions of common stock	(14,366,834)	(1,474)	(14,365,360)
Redemptions of common stock (in shares)		(1,473,355)
Issuance of restricted stock (in shares)		2,500
Issuance of restricted stock	3	3
Distributions ($0.70 per share)	(35,688,890)			(35,688,890)
Distributions for noncontrolling interests	(311,177)						(311,177)
Issuance of shares for distribution reinvestment plan (in shares)		1,540,890
Issuance of shares for distribution reinvestment plan	15,796,431	1,541	15,794,890
Issuance of limited partnership units in our Operating Partnership	1,311,772						1,311,772
Stock based compensation expense	25,782		25,782
Net loss attributable to Strategic Storage Trust, Inc.	(7,447,056)				(7,447,056)
Net income (loss) attributable to the noncontrolling interests in our Operating Partnership	1,858						1,858
Foreign currency translation adjustment	(1,176,333)					(1,176,333)
Change in fair value of interest rate swap	243,282					243,282
Ending Balance at Dec. 31, 2013	$ 316,978,906	$ 56,136	$ 487,032,573	$ (107,090,016)	$ (69,376,201)	$ (1,615,743)	$ 7,972,157
Ending Balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2013		56,136,435