| Document and Entity Information | Sep. 05, 2019 |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Amendment Flag | false |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0001393311 |
| Document Type | 8-K |
| Document Period End Date | Sep. 5, 2019 |
| Entity Registrant Name | PUBLIC STORAGE |
| Entity Incorporation State Country Code | MD |
| Entity File Number | 001-33519 |
| Entity Tax Identification Number | 95-3551121 |
| Entity Address, Address Line One | 701 Western Avenue |
| Entity Address, City or Town | Glendale |
| Entity Address, State or Province | CA |
| Entity Address, Postal Zip Code | 91201-2349 |
| City Area Code | (818) |
| Local Phone Number | 244-8080 |
| Written Communications | false |
| Soliciting Material | false |
| Pre Commencement Tender Offer | false |
| Pre Commencement Issuer Tender Offer | false |
| Entity Emerging Growth Company | false |
| Common Stock [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Security 12b Title | Common Shares, $0.10 par value |
| Trading Symbol | PSA |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| Depositary Shares Each Representing 11000 Of A 5.625 Cum Pref Share Series U 0.01 Par Value [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Security 12b Title | Depositary Shares Each Representing 1/1,000 of a 5.625% Cum Pref Share, Series U, $0.01 par value |
| Trading Symbol | PSAPrU |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| Depositary Shares Each Representing 11000 Of A 5.375 Cum Pref Share Series V 0.01 Par Value [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Security 12b Title | Depositary Shares Each Representing 1/1,000 of a 5.375% Cum Pref Share, Series V, $0.01 par value |
| Trading Symbol | PSAPrV |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| Depositary Shares Each Representing 11000 Of A 5.200 Cum Pref Share Series W 0.01 Par Value [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Security 12b Title | Depositary Shares Each Representing 1/1,000 of a 5.200% Cum Pref Share, Series W, $0.01 par value |
| Trading Symbol | PSAPrW |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| Depositary Shares Each Representing 11000 Of A 5.200 Cum Pref Share Series X 0.01 Par Value [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Security 12b Title | Depositary Shares Each Representing 1/1,000 of a 5.200% Cum Pref Share, Series X, $0.01 par value |
| Trading Symbol | PSAPrX |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| Depositary Shares Each Representing 11000 Of A 5.875 Cum Pref Share Series A 0.01 Par Value [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Security 12b Title | Depositary Shares Each Representing 1/1,000 of a 5.875% Cum Pref Share, Series A, $0.01 par value |
| Trading Symbol | PSAPrA |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| Series B Preferred Stock [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Security 12b Title | Depositary Shares Each Representing 1/1,000 of a 5.400% Cum Pref Share, Series B, $0.01 par value |
| Trading Symbol | PSAPrB |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| Series C Preferred Stock [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Security 12b Title | Depositary Shares Each Representing 1/1,000 of a 5.125% Cum Pref Share, Series C, $0.01 par value |
| Trading Symbol | PSAPrC |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| Series D Preferred Stock [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Security 12b Title | Depositary Shares Each Representing 1/1,000 of a 4.950% Cum Pref Share, Series D, $0.01 par value |
| Trading Symbol | PSAPrD |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| Series E Preferred Stock [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Security 12b Title | Depositary Shares Each Representing 1/1,000 of a 4.900% Cum Pref Share, Series E, $0.01 par value |
| Trading Symbol | PSAPrE |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| Series F Preferred Stock [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Security 12b Title | Depositary Shares Each Representing 1/1,000 of a 5.150% Cum Pref Share, Series F, $0.01 par value |
| Trading Symbol | PSAPrF |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| Series G Preferred Stock [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Security 12b Title | Depositary Shares Each Representing 1/1,000 of a 5.050% Cum Pref Share, Series G, $0.01 par value |
| Trading Symbol | PSAPrG |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| Series H Preferred Stock [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Security 12b Title | Depositary Shares Each Representing 1/1,000 of a 5.600% Cum Pref Share, Series H, $0.01 par value |
| Trading Symbol | PSAPrH |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
