Investments In Real Estate (Purchase Price Allocation) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
Mar. 31, 2013
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Investments in Real Estate	$ 69,149
Below-Market Lease	(2,087)
Acquisition Date Fair-Value	77,935
Acquired Above-Market Lease Value [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible Assets	12
Weighted average remaining intangible assets amortization life (in months)	5 years 2 months 12 days
Acquired In Place Lease Value [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible Assets	10,861
Weighted average remaining intangible assets amortization life (in months)	7 years 1 month 6 days
17201 Waterview Parkway [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Investments in Real Estate	8,479
Below-Market Lease	(2,087)
Acquisition Date Fair-Value	8,500
17201 Waterview Parkway [Member] \| Acquired In Place Lease Value [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible Assets	2,108
1900 S. Price Road [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Investments in Real Estate	22,354
Acquisition Date Fair-Value	24,000
1900 S. Price Road [Member] \| Acquired In Place Lease Value [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible Assets	1,646
371 Gough Road [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Investments in Real Estate	8,072
Acquisition Date Fair-Value	8,435
371 Gough Road [Member] \| Acquired Above-Market Lease Value [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible Assets	12
371 Gough Road [Member] \| Acquired In Place Lease Value [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible Assets	351
1500 Towerview Road [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Investments in Real Estate	30,244
Acquisition Date Fair-Value	37,000
1500 Towerview Road [Member] \| Acquired In Place Lease Value [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Intangible Assets	$ 6,756
Properties Acquired In 2013 [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Weighted average remaining intangible liabilities amortization life (in months)	121 months
Properties Acquired In 2013 [Member] \| Acquired Above-Market Lease Value [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Weighted average remaining intangible assets amortization life (in months)	84 months
Properties Acquired In 2013 [Member] \| Acquired In Place Lease Value [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Weighted average remaining intangible assets amortization life (in months)	100 months

Acquired Finite-lived Intangible Liabilities, Weighted Average Useful Life

No definition available.

Name:	dlr_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleLiabilitiesWeightedAverageUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	dlr_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Business Combination, Recognized Identifiable Assets Acquired and Liabilities Assumed, Offmarket Lease Unfavorable

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dlr_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedOffmarketLeaseUnfavorable
Namespace Prefix:	dlr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Weighted average amortization period of finite-lived intangible assets acquired either individually or as part of a group of assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 350

-SubTopic 30

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (a)(3)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=7658586&loc=d3e16265-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_AcquiredFiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsWeightedAverageUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The amount of identifiable intangible assets recognized as of the acquisition date.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141R

-Paragraph 12, 13, 14, 20, A107

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6910749&loc=d3e4845-128472

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

-Section 55

-Paragraph 37

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=9154965&loc=d3e2207-128464

Reference 4: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141R

-Paragraph 68

-Subparagraph i

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedIntangibles
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The net amount recognized as of the acquisition date for the aggregate identifiable assets acquired in excess of or less than the aggregate liabilities assumed.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 20

-Section 50

-Paragraph 1

-Subparagraph (c)

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6910749&loc=d3e4845-128472

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Accounting Standards Codification

-Topic 805

-SubTopic 10

-Section 55

-Paragraph 37

-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=9154965&loc=d3e2207-128464

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef

-Publisher FASB

-Name Statement of Financial Accounting Standard (FAS)

-Number 141R

-Paragraph 68

-Subparagraph i

-LegacyDoc This reference is SUPERSEDED by the Accounting Standards Codification effective for interim and annual periods ending after September 15, 2009. This reference is included to help users transition from the previous accounting hierarchy and will be removed from future versions of this taxonomy.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The amount of property, plant, and equipment recognized as of the acquisition date.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessCombinationRecognizedIdentifiableAssetsAcquiredAndLiabilitiesAssumedPropertyPlantAndEquipment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant