Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 49,263	$ 39,012
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Loss on early extinguishment of debt-non cash portion		519
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	(1,389)	(1,208)
Distributions from unconsolidated joint venture	1,500	1,000
Write-off of net assets due to early lease terminations		90
Depreciation and amortization of buildings and improvements, tenant improvements and acquired ground leases	69,216	57,559
Amortization Deferred Stock Based Compensation	3,407	3,022
Allowance for (recovery of) doubtful accounts	1,025	(919)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	2,214	2,451
Write-off of deferred financing costs, included in net loss on early extinguishment of debt		79
Amortization of debt discount/premium	242	786
Amortization of acquired in place lease value and deferred leasing costs	14,779	16,359
Amortization of acquired above market leases and acquired below market leases, net	(2,239)	(1,814)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Restricted cash	9,272	381
Accounts and other receivables	1,484	(5,841)
Deferred rent	(15,902)	(12,749)
Deferred leasing costs	(2,922)	(4,591)
Other assets	(11,473)	(10,730)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(36,159)	(20,289)
Security deposits and prepaid rents	(11,781)	1,372
Net cash provided by operating activities	70,537	64,489
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of real estate	(119,069)
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(3,796)	(119)
Deposits paid for acquisitions of real estate	(7,132)	(1,294)
Receipt of value added tax refund	892	1,201
Refundable value added tax paid	(2,986)	(1,009)
Change in restricted cash	1,101	(67)
Improvements to and advances for investments in real estate	(185,964)	(135,110)
Improvement advances to tenants	(437)	(1,346)
Collection of advances from tenants for improvements	562	187
Net cash used in investing activities	(316,829)	(137,557)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on revolving credit facilities	525,037	260,873
Repayments on revolving credit facilities	(122,367)	(382,500)
Principal payments on mortgage loans	(76,643)	(3,900)
Principal repayments on 2026 exchangeable senior debentures		(35,850)
Equity component settled associated with exchange of 2026 exchangeable senior debentures		(11,783)
Change in restricted cash	1,603	625
Payment of loan fees and costs	18	(3,369)
Capital contributions received from noncontrolling interests in joint ventures	6,570	42
Gross proceeds from the sale of common stock	63,346	5,734
Common stock offering costs paid	(634)	(137)
Preferred stock offering costs paid	(120)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	1,298	866
Payment of dividends/distributions to preferred stockholders/unitholders	(8,831)	(6,522)
Payment of dividends/distributions to common stockholders/unitholders and distributions to noncontrolling interests in operating partnership	(157,373)	(117,462)
Net cash provided by financing activities	231,904	105,717
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(14,388)	32,649
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	40,631	11,719
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	26,243	44,368
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, including amounts capitalized	53,876	45,208
Cash paid for taxes	259	87
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in net assets related to foreign currency translation adjustments	19,303	16,406
Decrease (increase) in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	(945)	1,506
Noncontrolling interests in operating partnership redeemed for or converted to shares of common stock	2,284	1,815
Preferred units converted to common units	4	10,690
Issuance of common units associated with exchange of 2026 exchangeable senior debentures, net		194
Accrual for additions to investments in real estate and tenant improvement advances included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	180,499	134,693
Allocation of purchase price of real estate/investment in partnership to:
Investments in real estate	122,433
Acquired below market leases	(26,450)
Acquired in place lease value and deferred leasing costs	23,086
Cash paid for acquisition of real estate	119,069
5.250% Due 2021 [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on 5.250% unsecured senior notes due 2021		399,100
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	49,263	39,012
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Loss on early extinguishment of debt-non cash portion		519
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	(1,389)	(1,208)
Distributions from unconsolidated joint venture	1,500	1,000
Write-off of net assets due to early lease terminations		90
Depreciation and amortization of buildings and improvements, tenant improvements and acquired ground leases	69,216	57,559
Amortization Deferred Stock Based Compensation	3,407	3,022
Allowance for (recovery of) doubtful accounts	1,025	(919)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	2,214	2,451
Write-off of deferred financing costs, included in net loss on early extinguishment of debt		79
Amortization of debt discount/premium	242	786
Amortization of acquired in place lease value and deferred leasing costs	14,779	16,359
Amortization of acquired above market leases and acquired below market leases, net	(2,239)	(1,814)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Restricted cash	9,272	381
Accounts and other receivables	1,484	(5,841)
Deferred rent	(15,902)	(12,749)
Deferred leasing costs	(2,922)	(4,591)
Other assets	(11,473)	(10,730)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(36,159)	(20,289)
Security deposits and prepaid rents	(11,781)	1,372
Net cash provided by operating activities	70,537	64,489
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of real estate	(119,069)
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(3,796)	(119)
Deposits paid for acquisitions of real estate	(7,132)	(1,294)
Receipt of value added tax refund	892	1,201
Refundable value added tax paid	(2,986)	(1,009)
Change in restricted cash	1,101	(67)
Improvements to and advances for investments in real estate	(185,964)	(135,110)
Improvement advances to tenants	(437)	(1,346)
Collection of advances from tenants for improvements	562	187
Net cash used in investing activities	(316,829)	(137,557)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on revolving credit facilities	525,037	260,873
Repayments on revolving credit facilities	(122,367)	(382,500)
Borrowings on 5.250% unsecured senior notes due 2021		399,100
Principal payments on mortgage loans	(76,643)	(3,900)
Principal repayments on 2026 exchangeable senior debentures		(35,850)
Equity component settled associated with exchange of 2026 exchangeable senior debentures		(11,783)
Change in restricted cash	1,603	625
Payment of loan fees and costs	18	(3,369)
Capital contributions received from noncontrolling interests in joint ventures	6,570	42
General partner contributions	63,890	6,463
Payment of dividends/distributions to preferred stockholders/unitholders	(8,831)	(6,522)
Payment of dividends/distributions to common stockholders/unitholders and distributions to noncontrolling interests in operating partnership	(157,373)	(117,462)
Net cash provided by financing activities	231,904	105,717
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(14,388)	32,649
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	40,631	11,719
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	26,243	44,368
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, including amounts capitalized	53,876	45,208
Cash paid for taxes	259	87
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in net assets related to foreign currency translation adjustments	19,303	16,406
Decrease (increase) in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	(945)	1,506
Preferred units converted to common units	4	10,690
Issuance of common units associated with exchange of 2026 exchangeable senior debentures, net		194
Accrual for additions to investments in real estate and tenant improvement advances included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	180,499	134,693
Allocation of purchase price of real estate/investment in partnership to:
Investments in real estate	122,433
Acquired below market leases	(26,450)
Acquired in place lease value and deferred leasing costs	23,086
Cash paid for acquisition of real estate	$ 119,069