Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020
Revenues
Rental income	$ 917,143	$ 690,758	$ 539,554
Total operating revenues	1,038,166	788,565	616,771
Expenses
Property operations and maintenance	179,760	143,648	122,544
Tenant reinsurance	29,280	22,882	15,729
Real estate taxes	99,710	79,861	70,302
General and administrative	77,201	62,617	52,055
Depreciation and amortization	192,902	147,119	122,925
Total operating expenses	578,853	456,127	383,555
Gain on sale of non-real estate assets	5,550	0	0
Gain on sale of real estate	0	0	302
Income from operations	464,863	332,438	233,518
Other income (expenses)
Interest expense	(109,240)	(86,786)	(86,015)
Interest income	32	827	19
Gain on sale of investments in joint ventures	1,572	0	0
Equity in income of joint ventures	9,235	5,696	4,838
Net income	366,462	252,175	152,360
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiary	(2)	0	0
Net income attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	$ 358,128	$ 249,317	$ 151,571
Earnings per common share/unit attributable to common shareholders/unitholders - basic	$ 4.25	$ 3.18	$ 2.13
Earnings per common share/unit attributable to common shareholders/unitholders - diluted	$ 4.22	$ 3.17	$ 2.13
Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Other income (expenses)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership	$ (4,001)	$ (1,494)	$ 0
Redeemable Common Stock [Member]
Other income (expenses)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership	(4,331)	(1,364)	(789)
Tenant reinsurance [Member]
Revenues
Other operating income	73,805	58,103	44,742
Other operating income [Member]
Revenues
Other operating income	47,218	39,704	32,475
Life Storage LP [Member]
Revenues
Rental income	917,143	690,758	539,554
Total operating revenues	1,038,166	788,565	616,771
Expenses
Property operations and maintenance	179,760	143,648	122,544
Tenant reinsurance	29,280	22,882	15,729
Real estate taxes	99,710	79,861	70,302
General and administrative	77,201	62,617	52,055
Depreciation and amortization	192,902	147,119	122,925
Total operating expenses	578,853	456,127	383,555
Gain on sale of non-real estate assets	5,550	0	0
Gain on sale of real estate	0	0	302
Income from operations	464,863	332,438	233,518
Other income (expenses)
Interest expense	(109,240)	(86,786)	(86,015)
Interest income	32	827	19
Gain on sale of investments in joint ventures	1,572	0	0
Equity in income of joint ventures	9,235	5,696	4,838
Net income	366,462	252,175	152,360
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiary	(2)	(0)	(0)
Net income attributable to common shareholders/unitholders	$ 358,128	$ 249,317	$ 151,571
Earnings per common share/unit attributable to common shareholders/unitholders - basic	$ 4.25	$ 3.18	$ 2.13
Earnings per common share/unit attributable to common shareholders/unitholders - diluted	$ 4.22	$ 3.17	$ 2.13
Net income attributable to general partner	$ 3,665	$ 2,522	$ 1,524
Net income attributable to limited partners	354,463	246,795	150,047
Life Storage LP [Member] | Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Other income (expenses)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership	(4,001)	(1,494)	0
Life Storage LP [Member] | Redeemable Common Stock [Member]
Other income (expenses)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership	(4,331)	(1,364)	(789)
Life Storage LP [Member] | Tenant reinsurance [Member]
Revenues
Other operating income	73,805	58,103	44,742
Life Storage LP [Member] | Other operating income [Member]
Revenues
Other operating income	$ 47,218	$ 39,704	$ 32,475