Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows In Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2011 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2010 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2011 Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2010 Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2010 Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member] 5.875% due 2020 [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2011 Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member] 5.250% due 2021 [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2010 5.875% due 2020 [Member] USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2011 5.250% due 2021 [Member] USD ($)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 77,240	$ 45,488	$ 77,240	$ 45,488
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Loss on early extinguishment of debt-non cash portion	567	1,193	567	1,193
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint venture	(2,266)	(2,933)	(2,266)	(2,933)
Distributions from unconsolidated joint venture	2,000	2,000	2,000	2,000
Write-off of net assets due to early lease terminations	81	167	81	167
Depreciation and amortization of buildings and improvements, tenant improvements and acquired ground leases	118,520	93,940	118,520	93,940
Amortization of share-based unearned compensation	6,702	6,601	6,702	6,601
(Recovery of) allowance for doubtful accounts	(1,295)	296	(1,295)	296
Amortization of deferred financing costs	4,961	5,335	4,961	5,335
Write-off of deferred financing costs, included in net loss on early extinguishment of debt	85		85
Amortization of debt discount/premium	1,498	2,256	1,498	2,256
Amortization of acquired in place lease value and deferred leasing costs	32,246	23,453	32,246	23,453
Amortization of acquired above market leases and acquired below market leases, net	(3,674)	(4,704)	(3,674)	(4,704)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Restricted cash	2,654	2,043	2,654	2,043
Accounts and other receivables	(7,224)	(9,017)	(7,224)	(9,017)
Deferred rent	(27,053)	(21,682)	(27,053)	(21,682)
Deferred leasing costs	(7,770)	(5,122)	(7,770)	(5,122)
Other assets	(12,915)	(6,561)	(12,915)	(6,561)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	4,154	14,020	4,154	14,020
Security deposits and prepaid rents	1,212	(3,701)	1,212	(3,701)
Net cash provided by operating activities	189,723	143,072	189,723	143,072
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of real estate	(17,523)	(405,983)	(17,523)	(405,983)
Investment in unconsolidated joint venture	(244)		(244)
Deposits paid for acquisitions of real estate	(2,224)	(25,000)	(2,224)	(25,000)
Receipt of value added tax refund	5,623	1,818	5,623	1,818
Refundable value added tax paid	(7,674)	(2,077)	(7,674)	(2,077)
Change in restricted cash	118	(1,626)	118	(1,626)
Improvements to and advances for investments in real estate	(307,890)	(153,701)	(307,890)	(153,701)
Improvement advances to tenants	(2,935)	(911)	(2,935)	(911)
Collection of advances from tenants for improvements	1,728	994	1,728	994
Net cash used in investing activities	(331,021)	(586,486)	(331,021)	(586,486)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	537,431	291,404	537,431	291,404
Repayments on revolving credit facility	(527,500)	(485,547)	(527,500)	(485,547)
Borrowings on unsecured senior notes		117,000		117,000	491,480	399,100	491,480	399,100
Principal payments on mortgage loans	(123,645)	(6,705)	(123,645)	(6,705)
Principal repayments on 2026 exchangeable senior debentures	(40,457)	(250)	(40,457)	(250)
Equity component settled associated with exchange of 2026 exchangeable senior debentures	(11,783)		(11,783)
Change in restricted cash	1,311	514	1,311	514
Payment of loan fees and costs	(3,825)	(5,544)	(3,825)	(5,544)
Capital contributions received from noncontrolling interests in joint venture	42	4,833	42	4,833
Gross proceeds from the sale of common stock	179,583	461,868
Common stock offering costs paid	(3,317)	(17,183)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	3,053	3,638
General partner contributions			179,319	448,323
Payment of dividends/distributions to preferred stockholders/unitholders	(11,235)	(20,202)	(11,235)	(20,202)
Payment of dividends/distributions to common stockholders/unitholders and distributions to noncontrolling interests in operating partnership	(188,039)	(121,589)	(188,039)	(121,589)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint venture	(53,240)		(53,240)
Net cash provided by financing activities	157,479	713,717	157,479	713,717
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	16,181	270,303	16,181	270,303
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	11,719	72,320	11,719	72,320
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	27,900	342,623	27,900	342,623
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, including amounts capitalized	72,557	49,293	72,557	49,293
Cash paid for taxes	1,080	695	1,080	695
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in net assets related to foreign currency translation adjustments	25,037	(37,519)	25,037	(37,519)
Decrease in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	(947)	(6,096)	(947)	(6,096)
Noncontrolling interests in operating partnership redeemed for or converted to shares of common stock	6,434	7,179	6,434	7,179
Accrual for additions to investments in real estate and tenant improvement advances included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	126,039	80,439	126,039	80,439
Accrual of contingent purchase price for investments in real estate		7,440		7,440
Issuance of common stock in exchange of 2026 exchangeable senior debentures, net	230	36,989	230	36,989
Allocation of purchase price of real estate/investment in partnership to:
Investments in real estate	17,523	377,419	17,523	377,419
Acquired above market leases		9,714		9,714
Acquired below market leases		(26,450)		(26,450)
Acquired in place lease value and deferred leasing costs		45,300		45,300
Cash paid for acquisition of real estate	$ 17,523	$ 405,983	$ 17,523	$ 405,983