Debt Of The Operating Partnership (Summary Of Outstanding Indebtedness Of The Operating Partnership - Unsecured Senior Notes) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Unsecured senior notes, net of discount	$ 1,441,569	$ 1,441,072
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Subtotal	3,406,393
Unamortized discounts	(8,431)
Unsecured senior notes, net of discount	1,441,569	1,441,072
Prudential Shelf Facility [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Subtotal	175,000	175,000
Unsecured senior notes, net of discount	175,000
Prudential Shelf Facility [Member] | Series B [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Interest Rate	9.32%
Maturity Date	Nov. 05, 2013
Subtotal	33,000	33,000
Prudential Shelf Facility [Member] | Series C [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Interest Rate	9.68%
Maturity Date	Jan. 06, 2016
Subtotal	25,000	25,000
Prudential Shelf Facility [Member] | Series D [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Interest Rate	4.57%
Maturity Date	Jan. 20, 2015
Subtotal	50,000	50,000
Prudential Shelf Facility [Member] | Series E [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Interest Rate	5.73%
Maturity Date	Jan. 20, 2017
Subtotal	50,000	50,000
Prudential Shelf Facility [Member] | Series F [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Interest Rate	4.50%
Maturity Date	Feb. 03, 2015
Subtotal	17,000	17,000
Senior Notes [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Subtotal	1,275,000
Unamortized discounts	(8,431)	(8,928)
Principal Outstanding (Senior notes)	1,266,569	1,266,072
Unsecured senior notes, net of discount	1,441,569	1,441,072
Senior Notes [Member] | 4.50% Notes Due 2015 [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Interest Rate	4.50%
Senior Notes [Member] | 4.50% Notes Due 2015 [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Interest Rate	4.50%
Maturity Date	Jul. 15, 2015
Principal Outstanding (Senior notes)	375,000	375,000
Senior Notes [Member] | 5.875% Notes Due 2020 [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Interest Rate	5.875%
Senior Notes [Member] | 5.875% Notes Due 2020 [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Interest Rate	5.875%
Maturity Date	Feb. 01, 2020
Principal Outstanding (Senior notes)	500,000	500,000
Senior Notes [Member] | 5.25% Notes Due 2021 [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Interest Rate	5.25%
Senior Notes [Member] | 5.25% Notes Due 2021 [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Interest Rate	5.25%
Maturity Date	Mar. 15, 2021
Principal Outstanding (Senior notes)	$ 400,000	$ 400,000