Quarterly report pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d)

EARNINGS PER SHARE - Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share (Details)

v3.4.0.3
EARNINGS PER SHARE - Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share (Details) - USD ($)
$ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands
 3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2016
Mar. 31, 2015
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]    
Net income (loss) $ 4,802 $ (2,771)
Net (income) loss attributable to noncontrolling interests (2,592) 2,771
Net income (loss) attributable to National Storage Affiliates Trust 2,210 0
Distributed and undistributed earnings allocated to participating securities (4) 0
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders - basic 2,206 0
Effect of assumed conversion of dilutive securities 2,571 0
Net income (loss) attributable to common shareholders - diluted $ 4,777 $ 0
Weighted average shares outstanding - basic (in shares) 23,005 1
Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted (in shares) 67,994 1
Earnings (loss) per share - basic (in dollars per share) $ 0.10 $ 0.00
Earnings (loss) per share - diluted (in dollars per share) $ 0.07 $ 0.00
OP units [Member] | NSA OP, LP [Member]    
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]    
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares) 22,235 0
OP units [Member] | DownREIT Partnership [Member]    
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]    
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares) 1,835 0
LTIP units [Member] | NSA OP, LP [Member]    
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]    
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares) 2,151 0
Subordinated performance units [Member] | NSA OP, LP And DownREIT Partnership [Member]    
Earnings Per Share, Basic, by Common Class, Including Two Class Method [Line Items]    
Effect of dilutive securities (in shares) 18,768 0