Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Accounts and other receivables, allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 4,709	$ 3,609
Preferred Stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred Stock, authorized	30,000,000	30,000,000
Common Stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common Stock, authorized	165,000,000	165,000,000
Common Stock, shares issued	128,413,791	125,140,783
Common Stock, shares outstanding	128,413,791	125,140,783
Series D Cumulative Convertible Preferred Units [Member]
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	5.50%	5.50%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	0	123,413
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Preferred Stock, issued	0	4,936,505
Preferred Stock, outstanding	0	4,936,505
Series E Cumulative Convertible Preferred Units [Member]
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	7.00%	7.00%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	287,500	287,500
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Preferred Stock, issued	11,500,000	11,500,000
Preferred Stock, outstanding	11,500,000	11,500,000
Series F Cumulative Convertible Preferred Units [Member]
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	6.625%	6.625%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	182,500	182,500
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Preferred Stock, issued	7,300,000	7,300,000
Preferred Stock, outstanding	7,300,000	7,300,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Accounts and other receivables, allowance for doubtful accounts	4,709	3,609
Common Units, issued	128,413,791	125,140,783
Common Units, outstanding	128,413,791	125,140,783
Limited Partners, common units	1,509,814	1,515,814
Limited Partners, profits interest units	1,089,531	937,208
Limited Partners, Class C units outstanding	397,369	398,378
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member] | Series D Cumulative Convertible Preferred Units [Member]
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	5.50%	5.50%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	0	123,413
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Preferred Stock, issued	13,800,000
Preferred Units, issued	0	4,936,505
Preferred Units, outstanding	0	4,936,505
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member] | Series E Cumulative Convertible Preferred Units [Member]
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	7.00%	7.00%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	287,500	287,500
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Preferred Units, issued	11,500,000	11,500,000
Preferred Units, outstanding	11,500,000	11,500,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member] | Series F Cumulative Convertible Preferred Units [Member]
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	6.625%	6.625%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 182,500	$ 182,500
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Preferred Units, issued	7,300,000	7,300,000
Preferred Units, outstanding	7,300,000	7,300,000