Consolidated Statements of Operations (Unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2023	Mar. 31, 2022
Revenues
Rental income	$ 240,483	$ 205,509
Total operating revenues	273,602	233,490
Expenses
Property operations and maintenance	47,306	42,368
Tenant reinsurance	9,220	6,847
Real estate taxes	27,437	24,523
General and administrative	27,818	15,826
Depreciation and amortization	47,769	46,401
Total operating expenses	159,550	135,965
Gain on sale of non-real estate assets	686	0
Income from operations	114,738	97,525
Other income (expenses)
Interest expense	(33,113)	(24,240)
Interest and dividend income	12	15
Equity in income of joint ventures	1,629	2,118
Net income	83,266	75,418
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiary	5	0
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$ 81,608	$ 73,575
Earnings per common share/unit attributable to common shareholders/unitholders - basic	$ 0.96	$ 0.88
Earnings per common share/unit attributable to common shareholders/unitholders - diluted	$ 0.96	$ 0.88
Common shares/units used in basic earnings per share/unit calculation	84,935,860	83,644,426
Common shares/units used in diluted earnings per share/unit calculation	85,378,412	83,837,773
Dividends/distributions declared per common share/unit	$ 1.20	$ 1.00
Tenant reinsurance [Member]
Revenues
Other operating income	$ 20,291	$ 17,267
Other operating income [Member]
Revenues
Other operating income	12,828	10,714
Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Other income (expenses)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership	(330)	(996)
Redeemable Common Stock [Member]
Other income (expenses)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership	(1,333)	(847)
Life Storage LP [Member]
Revenues
Rental income	240,483	205,509
Total operating revenues	273,602	233,490
Expenses
Property operations and maintenance	47,306	42,368
Tenant reinsurance	9,220	6,847
Real estate taxes	27,437	24,523
General and administrative	27,818	15,826
Depreciation and amortization	47,769	46,401
Total operating expenses	159,550	135,965
Gain on sale of non-real estate assets	686	0
Income from operations	114,738	97,525
Other income (expenses)
Interest expense	(33,113)	(24,240)
Interest and dividend income	12	15
Equity in income of joint ventures	1,629	2,118
Net income	83,266	75,418
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests in consolidated subsidiary	5	0
Net income attributable to common shareholders	$ 81,608	$ 73,575
Earnings per common share/unit attributable to common shareholders/unitholders - basic	$ 0.96	$ 0.88
Earnings per common share/unit attributable to common shareholders/unitholders - diluted	$ 0.96	$ 0.88
Common shares/units used in basic earnings per share/unit calculation	84,935,860	83,644,426
Common shares/units used in diluted earnings per share/unit calculation	85,378,412	83,837,773
Dividends/distributions declared per common share/unit	$ 1.20	$ 1.00
Net income attributable to general partner	$ 833	$ 754
Net income attributable to limited partners	80,775	72,821
Life Storage LP [Member] | Tenant reinsurance [Member]
Revenues
Other operating income	20,291	17,267
Life Storage LP [Member] | Other operating income [Member]
Revenues
Other operating income	12,828	10,714
Life Storage LP [Member] | Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]
Other income (expenses)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership	(330)	(996)
Life Storage LP [Member] | Redeemable Common Stock [Member]
Other income (expenses)
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interest in the Operating Partnership	$ (1,333)	$ (847)