Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - $ / shares	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Common stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized	100,000,000	100,000,000
Common stock, shares outstanding	46,514,198	46,552,222
Limited partner, units outstanding	217,481	217,481
Life Storage LP [Member]
General partner, units outstanding	467,317	467,697
Limited partner, units outstanding	46,046,881	46,084,525
Life Storage LP [Member] \| Limited Partners Redeemable Capital Interest at Redemption Value [Member]
Limited partner, units outstanding	217,481	217,481

Face amount or stated value per share of common stock.

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Number of shares of common stock outstanding. Common stock represent the ownership interest in a corporation.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
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-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 2
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The number of general partner units outstanding.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 505
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 5
-Subparagraph (SAB Topic 4.F)
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The number of limited partner units outstanding.

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Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 272
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6373374&loc=d3e70434-108055

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