Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
ASSETS
Land	$ 580,411	$ 555,113
Acquired ground leases	6,358	6,214
Buildings and improvements	5,552,398	5,253,754
Tenant improvements	344,882	303,502
Total investments in properties	6,484,049	6,118,583
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(970,169)	(900,044)
Net investments in properties	5,513,880	5,218,539
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	27,661	23,976
Net investments in real estate	5,541,541	5,242,515
Cash and cash equivalents	26,243	40,631
Accounts and other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $3,461 and $2,436 as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	91,132	90,580
Deferred rent	261,197	246,815
Acquired above market leases, net	27,595	29,701
Acquired in place lease value and deferred leasing costs, net	353,398	335,381
Deferred financing costs, net	27,695	29,849
Restricted cash	43,810	55,165
Other assets	45,450	27,929
Total assets	6,418,061	6,098,566
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY/CAPITAL
Global revolving credit facility	678,554	275,106
Unsecured senior notes, net of discount	1,441,319	1,441,072
Exchangeable senior debentures	266,400	266,400
Mortgage loans, net of premiums	875,075	947,132
Other secured loan	10,500	10,500
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	313,968	315,133
Accrued dividends and distributions		75,455
Acquired below market leases, net	108,270	85,819
Security deposits and prepaid rents	90,991	101,538
Total liabilities	3,785,077	3,518,155
Commitments and contingencies
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 30,000,000 shares authorized:
Series C Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock/Units, 4.375%, $128,155 and $128,159 liquidation preference, respectively ($25.00 per share/unit), 5,126,214 and 5,126,364 shares/units issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	123,816	123,820
Series D Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock/Unit, 5.500%, $174,426 and $174,426 liquidation preference, respectively ($25.00 per share/unit), 6,977,055 and 6,977,055 shares/units issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	168,669	168,669
Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock/Unit, 7.000%, $287,500 and $287,500 liquidation preference, respectively ($25.00 per share/unit), 11,500,000 and 11,500,000 shares/units issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	277,172	277,292
Common Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 165,000,000 shares authorized, 107,342,049 and 106,039,279 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	1,069	1,057
Additional paid-in capital	2,558,968	2,496,651
Accumulated dividends in excess of earnings	(527,816)	(488,692)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(37,175)	(55,880)
Total stockholders' equity	2,564,703	2,522,917
Noncontrolling Interests:
Noncontrolling interests in operating partnership	49,639	45,057
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures	18,642	12,437
Total noncontrolling interests	68,281	57,494
Total equity	2,632,984	2,580,411
Total liabilities and equity	6,418,061	6,098,566
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
ASSETS
Land	580,411	555,113
Acquired ground leases	6,358	6,214
Buildings and improvements	5,552,398	5,253,754
Tenant improvements	344,882	303,502
Total investments in properties	6,484,049	6,118,583
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(970,169)	(900,044)
Net investments in properties	5,513,880	5,218,539
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	27,661	23,976
Net investments in real estate	5,541,541	5,242,515
Cash and cash equivalents	26,243	40,631
Accounts and other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $3,461 and $2,436 as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	91,132	90,580
Deferred rent	261,197	246,815
Acquired above market leases, net	27,595	29,701
Acquired in place lease value and deferred leasing costs, net	353,398	335,381
Deferred financing costs, net	27,695	29,849
Restricted cash	43,810	55,165
Other assets	45,450	27,929
Total assets	6,418,061	6,098,566
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY/CAPITAL
Global revolving credit facility	678,554	275,106
Unsecured senior notes, net of discount	1,441,319	1,441,072
Exchangeable senior debentures	266,400	266,400
Mortgage loans, net of premiums	875,075	947,132
Other secured loan	10,500	10,500
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	313,968	315,133
Accrued dividends and distributions		75,455
Acquired below market leases, net	108,270	85,819
Security deposits and prepaid rents	90,991	101,538
Total liabilities	3,785,077	3,518,155
Commitments and contingencies
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 30,000,000 shares authorized:
Series C Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock/Units, 4.375%, $128,155 and $128,159 liquidation preference, respectively ($25.00 per share/unit), 5,126,214 and 5,126,364 shares/units issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	123,816	123,820
Series D Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock/Unit, 5.500%, $174,426 and $174,426 liquidation preference, respectively ($25.00 per share/unit), 6,977,055 and 6,977,055 shares/units issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	168,669	168,669
Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock/Unit, 7.000%, $287,500 and $287,500 liquidation preference, respectively ($25.00 per share/unit), 11,500,000 and 11,500,000 shares/units issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	277,172	277,292
107,342,049 and 106,039,279 common units issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	2,032,221	2,009,016
Limited partners, 3,240,814 and 3,405,814 common units, 1,179,808 and 1,054,473 profits interest units and 453,012 and 475,843 class C units outstanding as of March 31, 2012 and December 31, 2011, respectively	53,069	49,240
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(40,605)	(60,063)
Total partners' capitals	2,614,342	2,567,974
Noncontrolling Interests:
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures	18,642	12,437
Total capital	2,632,984	2,580,411
Total liabilities and capital	$ 6,418,061	$ 6,098,566