Capital And Comprehensive Income (Schedule Of Distributions) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Per Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012
Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Date dividend/distribution declared	Feb. 14, 2012
Dividend/Distribution payable date	Mar. 30, 2012
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Date dividend/distribution declared	Feb. 14, 2012
Dividend/Distribution payable date	Mar. 30, 2012
Series C Preferred Units [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units	1,402	[1]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount	1.094
Series D Preferred Units [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units	2,398	[2]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount	1.375
Series E Preferred Units [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units	5,031	[3]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount	1.750
Common Units [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units	81,917	[4]
Common Units, annual rate of distribution per unit	2.920

[1] $1.094 annual rate of distribution per unit.

[2] $1.375 annual rate of distribution per unit.

[3] $1.750 annual rate of distribution per unit.

[4] $2.920 annual rate of distribution per unit.