Condensed Consolidated Statement Of Capital (USD $)	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2012
Balance (units)		106,039,279
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units		$ 4,898,000
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock		859,911,000
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred units		176,071,000
Amortization of unearned compensation regarding share based awards		12,339,000
Net income	56,921,000	160,152,000
Other comprehensive income (loss) - foreign currency translation adjustments	34,985,000	36,286,000
Other comprehensive income (loss) - fair value of interest rate swaps	(3,906,000)	(6,794,000)
Reclassification to interest expense from interest rate swaps	1,174,000	2,964,000
Balance (units)	123,261,390	123,261,390
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Balance		2,580,411,000
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock		859,911,000
Issuance of common units in connection with the exercise of stock options		4,173,000
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred units		176,071,000
Amortization of unearned compensation regarding share based awards		12,339,000
Distributions		(287,896,000)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint venture		(12,384,000)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures		2,323,000
Net income	56,921,000	160,152,000
Other comprehensive income (loss) - foreign currency translation adjustments	34,985,000	36,286,000
Other comprehensive income (loss) - fair value of interest rate swaps	(3,906,000)	(6,794,000)
Reclassification to interest expense from interest rate swaps	1,174,000	2,964,000
Balance	3,527,556,000	3,527,556,000
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Balance		(60,067,000)
Other comprehensive income (loss) - foreign currency translation adjustments		36,286,000
Other comprehensive income (loss) - fair value of interest rate swaps		(6,794,000)
Reclassification to interest expense from interest rate swaps		2,964,000
Balance	(27,611,000)	(27,611,000)
Noncontrolling Interests In Consolidated Joint Ventures [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Balance		12,437,000
Purchase of noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint venture		(10,351,000)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures		2,323,000
Net income		(437,000)
Balance	3,972,000	3,972,000
General Partner [Member] | Preferred Units [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Balance		569,781,000
Balance (units)		23,603,419
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred units		176,071,000
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred units		7,300,000
Conversion of convertible preferred stock/units		(169,239,000)
Conversion of convertible preferred stock/units (shares)		(7,005,521)
Distributions		(28,921,000)
Net income		28,921,000
Balance	576,613,000	576,613,000
Balance (units)	23,897,898	23,897,898
General Partner [Member] | Common Units [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Balance		2,009,016,000
Balance (units)		106,039,279
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units		4,898,000
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)		460,192
Issuance of restricted common units, net of forfeitures (units)		93,276
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock		859,911,000
Net proceeds from issuance of common stock (shares)		12,456,818
Issuance of common units in connection with the exercise of stock options		4,173,000
Issuance of common units in connection with the exercise of stock options (units)		207,550
Conversion of convertible preferred stock/units		169,239,000
Conversion of convertible preferred stock/units (shares)		4,004,275
Amortization of unearned compensation regarding share based awards		12,339,000
Reclassification of vested share based awards		(8,544,000)
Distributions		(248,492,000)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint venture		(2,033,000)
Net income		126,847,000
Balance	2,927,354,000	2,927,354,000
Balance (units)	123,261,390	123,261,390
Limited Partner [Member] | Common Units [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Balance		49,244,000
Balance (units)		4,936,130
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units		(4,898,000)
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)		(460,192)
Issuance of common units, net of forfeitures (units)		150,130
Reclassification of vested share based awards		8,544,000
Distributions		(10,483,000)
Net income		4,821,000
Balance	$ 47,228,000	$ 47,228,000
Balance (units)	4,626,068	4,626,068