Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Revenues
Rental income	$ 227,239	$ 163,096	$ 432,748	$ 313,379
Total operating revenues	257,046	187,262	490,537	359,149
Expenses
Property operations and maintenance	42,458	33,369	84,827	67,109
Tenant reinsurance	6,481	5,425	13,328	10,206
Real estate taxes	25,356	20,510	49,879	40,397
General and administrative	18,636	15,083	34,502	29,266
Depreciation and amortization	48,076	35,771	94,476	69,130
Total operating expenses	141,007	110,158	277,012	216,108
Gain on sale of non-real estate assets	1,925	0	1,965	0
Income from operations	117,964	77,104	215,490	143,041
Other income (expenses)
Interest expense	(25,505)	(20,774)	(49,745)	(41,119)
Interest and dividend income	4	7	18	786
Equity in income of joint ventures	1,914	1,428	4,032	2,649
Net income	94,377	57,765	169,795	105,357
Net income attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	$ 92,264	$ 57,516	$ 165,839	$ 104,898
Earnings per common share/unit attributable to common shareholders/unitholders - basic	$ 1.09	$ 0.75	$ 1.98	$ 1.38
Earnings per common share/unit attributable to common shareholders/unitholders - diluted	$ 1.09	$ 0.74	$ 1.97	$ 1.37
Common shares/units used in basic earnings per share/unit calculation	84,270,378	77,057,520	83,957,402	76,222,426
Common shares/units used in diluted earnings per share/unit calculation	84,428,182	77,219,999	84,132,978	76,365,100
Dividends/distributions declared per common share/unit	$ 1.00	$ 0.74	$ 2.00	$ 1.48
Other operating income [Member]
Revenues
Other operating income	$ 11,550	$ 10,461	$ 22,264	$ 19,446
Tenant reinsurance [Member]
Revenues
Other operating income	18,257	13,705	35,525	26,324
Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Other income (expenses)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership	(1,007)	0	(2,003)	0
Redeemable Common Stock [Member]
Other income (expenses)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership	(1,106)	(249)	(1,953)	(459)
Life Storage LP [Member]
Revenues
Rental income	227,239	163,096	432,748	313,379
Total operating revenues	257,046	187,262	490,537	359,149
Expenses
Property operations and maintenance	42,458	33,369	84,827	67,109
Tenant reinsurance	6,481	5,425	13,328	10,206
Real estate taxes	25,356	20,510	49,879	40,397
General and administrative	18,636	15,083	34,502	29,266
Depreciation and amortization	48,076	35,771	94,476	69,130
Total operating expenses	141,007	110,158	277,012	216,108
Gain on sale of non-real estate assets	(1,925)	0	(1,965)	0
Income from operations	117,964	77,104	215,490	143,041
Other income (expenses)
Interest expense	(25,505)	(20,774)	(49,745)	(41,119)
Interest and dividend income	4	7	18	786
Equity in income of joint ventures	1,914	1,428	4,032	2,649
Net income	94,377	57,765	169,795	105,357
Net income attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	$ 92,264	$ 57,516	$ 165,839	$ 104,898
Earnings per common share/unit attributable to common shareholders/unitholders - basic	$ 1.09	$ 0.75	$ 1.98	$ 1.38
Earnings per common share/unit attributable to common shareholders/unitholders - diluted	$ 1.09	$ 0.74	$ 1.97	$ 1.37
Common shares/units used in basic earnings per share/unit calculation	84,270,378	77,057,520	83,957,402	76,222,426
Common shares/units used in diluted earnings per share/unit calculation	84,428,182	77,219,999	84,132,978	76,365,100
Dividends/distributions declared per common share/unit	$ 1.00	$ 0.74	$ 2.00	$ 1.48
Net income attributable to general partner	$ (944)	$ 578	$ (1,698)	$ 1,054
Net income attributable to limited partners	(91,320)	56,938	(164,141)	103,844
Life Storage LP [Member] | Other operating income [Member]
Revenues
Other operating income	11,550	10,461	22,264	19,446
Life Storage LP [Member] | Tenant reinsurance [Member]
Revenues
Other operating income	18,257	13,705	35,525	26,324
Life Storage LP [Member] | Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Other income (expenses)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership	(1,007)	0	(2,003)	0
Life Storage LP [Member] | Redeemable Common Stock [Member]
Other income (expenses)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership	$ (1,106)	$ (249)	$ (1,953)	$ (459)