Debt Of The Operating Partnership (Summary Of Outstanding Indebtedness Of The Operating Partnership - Other Secured Loan) (Details) (USD $)					9 Months Ended				3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012 Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Other Secured Loans [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Other Secured Loans [Member] 2805 Lafayette Street Mezzanine [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Other Secured Loans [Member] 2805 Lafayette Street Mezzanine [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]		Sep. 30, 2012 Mortgage Loans And Other Secured Debt [Member] 2805 Lafayette Street And 2805 Lafayette Street Mezzanine [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Sep. 30, 2012 Mortgage Loans And Other Secured Debt [Member] 2805 Lafayette Street And 2805 Lafayette Street Mezzanine [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Variable Rate Basis					1-month LIBOR + 8.50%	[1],[2]
Basis spread on variable rate					8.50%
Maturity Date					Jun. 09, 2013	[1],[2]
Other secured loan	$ 10,500,000		$ 10,500,000	$ 10,500,000			$ 10,500,000	[1],[2]
Total indebtedness		4,080,073,000	2,940,210,000
Net loss from early extinguishment of debt									$ 300,000	$ 300,000

[1] The respective borrower’s assets and credit are not available to satisfy the debts and other obligations of affiliates or any other person.

[2] Property formerly referred to as 800 Central Expressway.