Debt Of The Operating Partnership (Summary Of Outstanding Indebtedness Of The Operating Partnership - Unsecured Senior Notes) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified							9 Months Ended				9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended		9 Months Ended				9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended			9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 3.625% Notes Due 2022 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 3.625% Notes Due 2022 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 3.625% Notes Due 2022 [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Sep. 30, 2011 3.625% Notes Due 2022 [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Prudential Shelf Facility [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Prudential Shelf Facility [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Prudential Shelf Facility [Member] Series B [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Prudential Shelf Facility [Member] Series B [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Prudential Shelf Facility [Member] Series C [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Prudential Shelf Facility [Member] Series C [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Prudential Shelf Facility [Member] Series D [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Prudential Shelf Facility [Member] Series D [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Prudential Shelf Facility [Member] Series E [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Prudential Shelf Facility [Member] Series E [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Prudential Shelf Facility [Member] Series F [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Prudential Shelf Facility [Member] Series F [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Senior Notes [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Senior Notes [Member] 4.50% Notes Due 2015 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Senior Notes [Member] 4.50% Notes Due 2015 [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Senior Notes [Member] 4.50% Notes Due 2015 [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Senior Notes [Member] 5.875% Notes Due 2020 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Senior Notes [Member] 5.875% Notes Due 2020 [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Senior Notes [Member] 5.875% Notes Due 2020 [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Senior Notes [Member] 5.25% Notes Due 2021 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Senior Notes [Member] 5.25% Notes Due 2021 [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Senior Notes [Member] 5.25% Notes Due 2021 [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Senior Notes [Member] 3.625% Notes Due 2022 [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Senior Notes [Member] 3.625% Notes Due 2022 [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Interest Rate					3.625%	3.625%	3.625%	3.625%			9.32%		9.68%		4.57%		5.73%		4.50%			4.50%	4.50%		5.875%	5.875%		5.25%	5.25%		3.625%	3.625%
Maturity Date							Oct. 01, 2022				Nov. 05, 2013		Jan. 06, 2016		Jan. 20, 2015		Jan. 20, 2017		Feb. 03, 2015				Jul. 15, 2015			Feb. 01, 2020			Mar. 15, 2021			Oct. 01, 2022
Subtotal			$ 4,089,934						$ 175,000	$ 175,000	$ 33,000	$ 33,000	$ 25,000	$ 25,000	$ 50,000	$ 50,000	$ 50,000	$ 50,000	$ 17,000	$ 17,000	$ 1,575,000		$ 375,000	$ 375,000		$ 500,000	$ 500,000		$ 400,000	$ 400,000		$ 300,000
Unamortized discounts			(12,119)	(8,928)			(3,900)														(12,119)
Principal Outstanding (Senior notes)			1,562,881	1,266,072																	1,562,881
Unsecured senior notes, net of discount	$ 1,737,881	$ 1,441,072	$ 1,737,881	$ 1,441,072