Debt Of The Operating Partnership (Summary Of Outstanding Indebtedness Of The Operating Partnership - Global Revolving Credit Facility) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012		Dec. 31, 2011
Global Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Revolving credit facilities interest rates	Various	[1]
Maturity Date	Nov. 03, 2015
Balance/Principal Outstanding	$ 526,372	[2]	$ 275,106	[2]
Revolving credit facility basis spread on variable rate	125
Basis rate for unused portion of the credit facility	25
Weighted-average interest rate	1.99%		1.67%
USD [Member] | Global Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Balance/Principal Outstanding			194,000
Weighted-average interest rate	0.00%		1.54%
Exchange rate	1.62		1.55
EUR [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Exchange rate	1.29		1.30
GBP [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Exchange rate	1.62		1.55
GBP [Member] | Global Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Balance/Principal Outstanding	447,018	[3]	49,892	[4]
Weighted-average interest rate	1.79%		1.99%
SGD [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Exchange rate	0.81
SGD [Member] | Global Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Balance/Principal Outstanding	21,183	[3]	28,151	[4]
Weighted-average interest rate	1.56%		1.56%
Exchange rate	0.81		0.77
AUD [Member] | Global Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Balance/Principal Outstanding	39,021	[3]	3,063	[4]
Weighted-average interest rate	4.83%		5.89%
Exchange rate	1.04		1.02
HKD [Member] | Global Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Balance/Principal Outstanding	$ 19,150	[3]
Weighted-average interest rate	1.55%
Exchange rate	0.13

[1] The interest rate for borrowings under the global revolving credit facility equals the applicable index plus a margin of 125 basis points which is based on the credit rating of our long-term debt. An annual facility fee of 25 basis points, which is based on the credit rating of our long-term debt, is due and payable quarterly on the unused portion of the facility.

[2] 2) Balances as of September 30, 2012 and December 31, 2011 are as follows (balances, in thousands): Denomination of Draw Balance as of September 30, 2012 Weighted-average interest rate Balance as of December 31, 2011 Weighted-average interest rate US ($) $ - 0.00% $ 194,000 1.54% British Sterling (£) 447,018 (a) 1.79% 49,892 (b) 1.99% Singapore Dollar (SGD) 21,183 (a) 1.56% 28,151 (b) 1.56% Australian Dollar (AUD) 39,021 (a) 4.83% 3,063 (b) 5.89% Hong Kong Dollar (HKD) 19,150 (a) 1.55% - - Total $ 526,372 1.99% $ 275,106 1.67% (a) Based on exchange rates of $1.62 to £1.00, $0.81 to 1.00 SGD, $1.04 to 1.00 AUD and $0.13 to 1.00 HKD, respectively, as of September 30, 2012. (b) Based on exchange rates of $1.55 to £1.00, $0.77 to 1.00 SGD and $1.02 to 1.00 AUD, respectively, as of December 31, 2011.

[3] Based on exchange rates of $1.62 to £1.00, $0.81 to 1.00 SGD, $1.04 to 1.00 AUD and $0.13 to 1.00 HKD, respectively, as of September 30, 2012.

[4] Based on exchange rates of $1.55 to £1.00, $0.77 to 1.00 SGD and $1.02 to 1.00 AUD, respectively, as of December 31, 2011.