Annual report pursuant to Section 13 and 15(d)

Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail)

v3.22.0.1
Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) - USD ($)
 12 Months Ended
Aug. 19, 2021
Jul. 02, 2020
Dec. 31, 2021
Dec. 31, 2020
Dec. 31, 2019
Dec. 31, 2017
Jun. 30, 2020
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Noncontrolling limited partnership unit redemption value     one common share or cash        
Fixed Priority Return On Preferred Unit holders Percentage     4.50%        
Allowance for doubtful accounts     $ 1,500,000 $ 1,700,000      
Advertising costs     16,900,000 15,300,000 $ 12,400,000    
Depreciation expense     134,800,000 117,300,000 104,200,000    
Capitalized interest     400,000 400,000 900,000    
Impairment charges     0        
Property deposits     5,700,000 600,000      
Federal and state income tax expense, current     1,600,000        
Deferred income taxes     34,000 496,000 1,328,000    
Deferred tax expense     100,000        
Unrecognized tax benefits     0 0      
Interest or penalties related to uncertain tax provisions     0 0      
Deferred tax assets     400,000 400,000      
Deferred tax liability     $ 1,800,000 1,700,000      
Corporate income tax rate     21.00%     35.00%  
Operating lease expenses     358,000    
Weighted average remaining lease term     10 years 3 months 18 days        
Weighted average discount rate     4.60%        
Stock option expense     $ 6,600,000 $ 4,600,000 $ 4,200,000    
Options granted during period     0 0 0    
Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]              
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Preferred Stock Par Or Stated Value Per Share     $ 25.00        
Temporary Equity Shares Issued 3,590,603   7,000 35,550      
Asset Acquisition Consideration Transferred $ 89,800            
Issuance of units     $ 89,765,000      
Chief Operating Officer [Member]              
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Compensation expense     600,000        
ASU 2016-02 [Member]              
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Operating lease, aggregate right-of-use assets     $ 19,500,000 $ 20,300,000      
Operating Lease, Right-of-Use Asset, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]     Other assets Other assets      
Operating lease liabilities     $ 19,200,000 $ 19,900,000      
Operating Lease, Liability, Statement of Financial Position [Extensible List]     Accounts payable and accrued liabilities Accounts payable and accrued liabilities      
Operating lease expenses     $ 2,500,000 $ 2,100,000 $ 2,400,000    
General and Administrative Expense [Member]              
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Federal and state income tax expense (benefit)     $ 1,700,000 $ 1,600,000 2,200,000    
Building and Improvements [Member]              
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Estimated useful lives, (in years)     40 years        
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment [Member] | Minimum [Member]              
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Estimated useful lives, (in years)     5 years        
Furniture, Fixtures and Equipment [Member] | Maximum [Member]              
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Estimated useful lives, (in years)     20 years        
Life Storage LP [Member]              
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Units of redeemable noncontrolling interest in operating partnership     960,708 334,149      
Temporary Equity Shares Issued     633,559        
Asset Acquisition Consideration Transferred     $ 83,000,000.0        
Deferred income taxes     34,000 $ 496,000 1,328,000    
Operating lease expenses     $ 0 $ 0 $ 358,000    
Life Storage LP [Member] | Redeemable Preferred Stock [Member]              
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Units of redeemable noncontrolling interest in operating partnership     3,590,603 0      
Life Storage LP [Member]              
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Percentage of ownership interest of the subsidiary and its limited partnership which controls the operations of the Operating Partnership     98.10%        
Stock distribution terms     Share and per share amounts and unit and per unit amounts for all years presented have been adjusted to reflect the impact of the three-for-two distribution of common stock announced by the Company on January 4, 2021 and distributed on January 27, 2021 to shareholders and unitholders of record on January 15, 2021.        
Warehouse Anywhere LLC [Member]              
Schedule Of Significant Accounting Policies [Line Items]              
Percentage of ownership interest of the subsidiary and its limited partnership which controls the operations of the Operating Partnership             60.00%
Cash paid to acquire interest in subsidiary   $ 2,000,000.0          
Estimated potential future payment     $ 300,000