Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2012	Sep. 30, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 160,152	$ 114,929
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Loss on early extinguishment of debt-non cash portion		558
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	(6,402)	(3,656)
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	18,573	3,250
Write-off of net assets due to early lease terminations	1,260	81
Depreciation and amortization of buildings and improvements, tenant improvements and acquired ground leases	226,739	181,499
Amortization of share-based unearned compensation	9,922	10,263
Allowance for (recovery of) doubtful accounts	(74)	(1,090)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	6,341	7,246
Write-off of deferred financing costs, included in net loss on early extinguishment of debt	254	85
Amortization of debt discount/premium	748	1,813
Amortization of acquired in place lease value and deferred leasing costs	48,096	48,313
Amortization of acquired above market leases and acquired below market leases, net	(7,443)	(5,663)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Restricted cash	6,866	288
Accounts and other receivables	(52,851)	(9,610)
Deferred rent	(55,772)	(41,220)
Deferred leasing costs	(13,206)	(7,200)
Other assets	(13,107)	(11,389)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(7,194)	(6,859)
Security deposits and prepaid rents	33,634	(1,540)
Net cash provided by operating activities	356,536	280,098
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of real estate	(1,451,598)	(86,567)
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(37,069)	(382)
Deposits paid for acquisitions of real estate	(500)	(10,066)
Receipt of value added tax refund	15,272	9,253
Refundable value added tax paid	(17,611)	(17,859)
Change in restricted cash	3,227	4,604
Improvements to and advances for investments in real estate	(596,644)	(489,709)
Improvement advances to tenants	(2,384)	(7,705)
Collection of advances from tenants for improvements	2,379	6,746
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,084,928)	(591,685)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments on revolving credit facilites	(1,271,528)	(1,049,182)
Repayments on other secured loan	(10,500)
Principal payments on mortgage loans	(162,548)	(127,341)
Principal repayments on 2026 exchangeable senior debentures		(88,758)
Principal payments on unsecured notes		(25,000)
Equity component settled associated with exchange of 2026 exchangeable senior debentures		(11,783)
Change in restricted cash	2,011	(73)
Payment of loan fees and costs	(8,859)	(6,593)
Capital contributions received from noncontrolling interests in joint ventures	2,323	119
Gross proceeds from the sale of common stock	894,221	419,619
Gross proceeds from the sale of preferred stock	182,500	287,500
Common stock offering costs paid	(34,310)	(6,027)
Preferred stock offering costs paid	(6,429)	(9,447)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	(4,173)	(3,416)
Payment of dividends/distributions to preferred stockholders/unitholders	(28,921)	(15,671)
Payment of dividends/distributions to common stockholders/unitholders and distributions to noncontrolling interests in operating partnership	(334,430)	(261,286)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint venture	12,384	53,240
Net cash provided by financing activities	1,763,876	338,600
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	35,484	27,013
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	40,631	11,719
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	76,115	38,732
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, including amounts capitalized	135,840	126,664
Cash paid for taxes	2,045	1,568
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in net assets related to foreign currency translation adjustments	36,286	(10,543)
Decrease (increase) in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	(6,794)	(3,036)
Noncontrolling interests in operating partnership redeemed for or converted to shares of common stock	4,898	6,560
Preferred stock/units converted to shares of common stock/units	169,239	165,160
Accrual for additions to investments in real estate and tenant improvement advances included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	240,310	136,840
Issuance of common units associated with exchange of 2026 exchangeable senior debentures, net		221
Accrual for contingent purchase price of Sentrum portfolio included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	87,532
Allocation of purchase price of real estate/investment in partnership to:
Investments in real estate	1,336,127	79,424
Acquired above market leases	(44,402)	(178)
Acquired below market leases	(80,604)
Acquired in place lease value and deferred leasing costs	(158,563)	(6,965)
Mortgage loans assumed, net of premium	(6,890)
Cash paid for acquisition of real estate	1,451,598	86,567
5.250% Due 2021 [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on unsecured senior notes		399,100
3.625% Notes Due 2022 [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on unsecured senior notes	296,052
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	160,152	114,929
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Loss on early extinguishment of debt-non cash portion		558
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	(6,402)	(3,656)
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	18,573	3,250
Write-off of net assets due to early lease terminations	1,260	81
Depreciation and amortization of buildings and improvements, tenant improvements and acquired ground leases	226,739	181,499
Amortization of share-based unearned compensation	9,922	10,263
Allowance for (recovery of) doubtful accounts	(74)	(1,090)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	6,341	7,246
Write-off of deferred financing costs, included in net loss on early extinguishment of debt	254	85
Amortization of debt discount/premium	748	1,813
Amortization of acquired in place lease value and deferred leasing costs	48,096	48,313
Amortization of acquired above market leases and acquired below market leases, net	(7,443)	(5,663)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Restricted cash	6,866	288
Accounts and other receivables	(52,851)	(9,610)
Deferred rent	(55,772)	(41,220)
Deferred leasing costs	(13,206)	(7,200)
Other assets	(13,107)	(11,389)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(7,194)	(6,859)
Security deposits and prepaid rents	33,634	(1,540)
Net cash provided by operating activities	356,536	280,098
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of real estate	(1,451,598)	(86,567)
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(37,069)	(382)
Deposits paid for acquisitions of real estate	(500)	(10,066)
Receipt of value added tax refund	15,272	9,253
Refundable value added tax paid	(17,611)	(17,859)
Change in restricted cash	3,227	4,604
Improvements to and advances for investments in real estate	(596,644)	(489,709)
Improvement advances to tenants	(2,384)	(7,705)
Collection of advances from tenants for improvements	2,379	6,746
Net cash used in investing activities	(2,084,928)	(591,685)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments on other secured loan	(10,500)
Principal payments on mortgage loans	(162,548)	(127,341)
Principal repayments on 2026 exchangeable senior debentures		(88,758)
Principal payments on unsecured notes		(25,000)
Equity component settled associated with exchange of 2026 exchangeable senior debentures		11,783
Change in restricted cash	(2,011)	73
Payment of loan fees and costs	(8,859)	(6,593)
Capital contributions received from noncontrolling interests in joint ventures	2,323	119
General partner contributions	1,040,155	695,061
Payment of dividends/distributions to preferred stockholders/unitholders	(28,921)	(15,671)
Payment of dividends/distributions to common stockholders/unitholders and distributions to noncontrolling interests in operating partnership	(334,430)	(261,286)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint venture	(12,384)	(53,240)
Net cash provided by financing activities	1,763,876	338,600
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	35,484	27,013
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	40,631	11,719
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	76,115	38,732
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, including amounts capitalized	135,840	126,664
Cash paid for taxes	2,045	1,568
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in net assets related to foreign currency translation adjustments	36,286	(10,543)
Decrease (increase) in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	(6,794)	(3,036)
Preferred stock/units converted to shares of common stock/units	169,239	165,160
Accrual for additions to investments in real estate and tenant improvement advances included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	240,310	136,840
Issuance of common units associated with exchange of 2026 exchangeable senior debentures, net		221
Accrual for contingent purchase price of Sentrum portfolio included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	87,532
Allocation of purchase price of real estate/investment in partnership to:
Investments in real estate	1,336,127	79,424
Acquired above market leases	44,402	178
Acquired below market leases	(80,604)
Acquired in place lease value and deferred leasing costs	158,563	6,965
Mortgage loans assumed, net of premium	(6,890)
Cash paid for acquisition of real estate	1,451,598	86,567
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member] | 5.250% Due 2021 [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on unsecured senior notes		(399,100)
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member] | 3.625% Notes Due 2022 [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on unsecured senior notes	296,052
Global Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on lines of credit	1,500,520	883,247
Global Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on lines of credit	1,500,520	883,247
Repayments on revolving credit facilites	(1,271,528)	(1,049,182)
Unsecured Term Loan [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on lines of credit	751,985
Unsecured Term Loan [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on lines of credit	$ 751,985