Capital And Comprehensive Income (Schedule Of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Cash flow hedge adjustment, Reclassification to interest expense from interest rate swaps	$ 1,174	$ 1,293	$ 2,964	$ 4,467
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net, Beginning balance			(55,880)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net, Ending balance	(24,524)		(24,524)
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Cash flow hedge adjustment, Reclassification to interest expense from interest rate swaps	1,174	1,293	2,964	4,467
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net, Beginning balance			(60,063)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net, Ending balance	(27,611)		(27,611)
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments [Member]
Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Foreign currency translation adjustments, Beginning balance			(49,298)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, Net current period change			35,053
Foreign currency translation adjustments, Ending balance	(14,245)		(14,245)
Foreign Currency Translation Adjustments [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Foreign currency translation adjustments, Beginning balance			(52,704)
Foreign currency translation adjustments, Net current period change			36,286
Foreign currency translation adjustments, Ending balance	(16,418)		(16,418)
Cash Flow Hedge Adjustments [Member]
Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Cash flow hedge adjustment, Beginning balance			(6,582)
Cash flow hedge adjustment, Net current period change			(6,553)
Cash flow hedge adjustment, Reclassification to interest expense from interest rate swaps			2,856
Cash flow hedge adjustments, Ending balance	(10,279)		(10,279)
Cash Flow Hedge Adjustments [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Cash flow hedge adjustment, Beginning balance			(7,363)
Cash flow hedge adjustment, Net current period change			(6,796)
Cash flow hedge adjustment, Reclassification to interest expense from interest rate swaps			2,964
Cash flow hedge adjustments, Ending balance	(11,195)		(11,195)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net [Member]
Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Cash flow hedge adjustment, Reclassification to interest expense from interest rate swaps			2,856
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net, Beginning balance			(55,880)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net, Net current period change			28,500
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net, Reclassification to interest expense from interest rate swaps			2,856
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net, Ending balance	(24,524)		(24,524)
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Line Items]
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net, Beginning balance			(60,067)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net, Net current period change			29,490
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net, Reclassification to interest expense from interest rate swaps			2,964
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net, Ending balance	$ (27,613)		$ (27,613)