| Document and Entity Information | Sep. 29, 2020 |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Amendment Flag | false |
| Entity Central Index Key | 0001393311 |
| Current Fiscal Year End Date | --12-31 |
| Document Type | 8-K |
| Document Period End Date | Sep. 29, 2020 |
| 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 5.200 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 5.400 Cum Pref Share Series B 0.01 Par Value 9 [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 |
| Depositary Shares Each Representing 11000 Of A 5.125 Cum Pref Share Series C 0.01 Par Value 1 [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 |
| Depositary Shares Each Representing 11000 Of A 4.950 Cum Pref Share Series D 0.01 Par Value 2 [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 |
| Depositary Shares Each Representing 11000 Of A 4.900 Cum Pref Share Series E 0.01 Par Value 3 [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 |
| Depositary Shares Each Representing 11000 Of A 5.150 Cum Pref Share Series F 0.01 Par Value 4 [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 |
| Depositary Shares Each Representing 11000 Of A 5.050 Cum Pref Share Series G 0.01 Par Value 5 [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 |
| Depositary Shares Each Representing 11000 Of A 5.600 Cum Pref Share Series H 0.01 Par Value 6 [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 |
| Depositary Shares Each Representing 11000 Of A 4.875 Cum Pref Share Series I 0.01 Par Value 7 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Security 12b Title | Depositary Shares Each Representing 1/1,000 of a 4.875% Cum Pref Share, Series I, $0.01 par value |
| Trading Symbol | PSAPrI |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| Depositary Shares Each Representing 11000 Of A 4.700 Cum Pref Share Series J 0.01 Par Value [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Security 12b Title | Depositary Shares Each Representing 1/1,000 of a 4.700% Cum Pref Share, Series J, $0.01 par value |
| Trading Symbol | PSAPrJ |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| Depositary Shares Each Representing 11000 Of A 4.750 Cum Pref Share Series K 0.01 Par Value [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Security 12b Title | Depositary Shares Each Representing 1/1,000 of a 4.750% Cum Pref Share, Series K, $0.01 par value |
| Trading Symbol | PSAPrK |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| Depositary Shares Each Representing 11000 Of A 4.625 Cum Pref Share Series L 0.01 Par Value [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Security 12b Title | Depositary Shares Each Representing 1/1,000 of a 4.625% Cum Pref Share, Series L, $0.01 par value |
| Trading Symbol | PSAPrL |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| Depositary Shares Each Representing 11000 Of A 4.125 Cum Pref Share Series M 0.01 Par Value 8 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Security 12b Title | Depositary Shares Each Representing 1/1,000 of a 4.125% Cum Pref Share, Series M, $0.01 par value |
| Trading Symbol | PSAPrM |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
| Notes Due 2032 [Member] | |
| Document And Entity Information [Line Items] | |
| Security 12b Title | 0.875% Senior Notes due 2032 |
| Trading Symbol | PSA32 |
| Security Exchange Name | NYSE |
