Capital And Comprehensive Income (Schedule Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Cash flow hedge adjustment, Reclassification to interest expense from interest rate swaps	$ 1,104	$ 1,585
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net, Beginning balance	(55,880)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net, Ending balance	(37,175)
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Cash flow hedge adjustment, Reclassification to interest expense from interest rate swaps	1,104	1,585
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net, Beginning balance	(60,063)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net, Ending balance	(40,605)
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments [Member]
Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Foreign currency translation adjustments, Beginning balance	(49,298)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, Net current period change	18,552
Foreign currency translation adjustments, Net current period change
Foreign currency translation adjustments, Ending balance	(30,746)
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Foreign currency translation adjustments, Beginning balance	(52,704)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, Net current period change	19,303
Foreign currency translation adjustments, Net current period change
Foreign currency translation adjustments, Ending balance	(33,401)
Cash Flow Hedge Adjustments [Member]
Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Cash flow hedge adjustment, Beginning balance	(6,582)
Cash flow hedge adjustment, Net current period change	(908)
Cash flow hedge adjustment, Reclassification to interest expense from interest rate swaps	1,061
Cash flow hedge adjustments, Ending balance	(6,429)
Cash Flow Hedge Adjustments [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Cash flow hedge adjustment, Beginning balance	(7,363)
Cash flow hedge adjustment, Net current period change	(945)
Cash flow hedge adjustment, Reclassification to interest expense from interest rate swaps	1,104
Cash flow hedge adjustments, Ending balance	(7,204)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net [Member]
Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Cash flow hedge adjustment, Reclassification to interest expense from interest rate swaps	1,061
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net, Beginning balance	(55,880)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net, Net current period change	17,644
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net, Reclassification Adjustments	1,061
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassification Adjustments, Net of Tax	1,061
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net, Ending balance	(37,175)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net, Beginning balance	(60,067)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net, Net current period change	18,358
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net, Reclassification Adjustments	1,104
Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Reclassification Adjustments, Net of Tax	1,104
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net, Ending balance	$ (40,605)