Debt Of The Operating Partnership (Summary Of Outstanding Indebtedness Of The Operating Partnership - Global Revolving Credit Facility) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Global Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Maturity Date	Nov. 03, 2015
Revolving credit facilities interest rates	Various	[1]
Balance/Principal Outstanding	$ 546,649	[2]	$ 723,729	[2]
Revolving credit facility basis spread on variable rate	1.25%
Basis rate for unused portion of the credit facility	0.25%
Weighted-average interest rate	2.00%		2.05%
USD [Member] | Global Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Balance/Principal Outstanding	283,000		49,000
Weighted-average interest rate	1.46%		2.05%
GBP [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Exchange rate	1.52		1.63
GBP [Member] | Global Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Balance/Principal Outstanding			433,195	[3]
Weighted-average interest rate			1.75%
Exchange rate			1.63
EUR [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Exchange rate	1.28		1.32
EUR [Member] | Global Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Balance/Principal Outstanding	84,606	[4]	87,074	[3]
Weighted-average interest rate	1.37%		1.36%
Exchange rate	1.28		1.32
SGD [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Exchange rate	0.81		0.82
SGD [Member] | Global Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Balance/Principal Outstanding	29,025	[4]	26,191	[3]
Weighted-average interest rate	1.56%		1.56%
Exchange rate	0.81		0.82
AUD [Member] | Global Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Balance/Principal Outstanding	102,184	[4]	93,754	[3]
Weighted-average interest rate	4.32%		4.42%
Exchange rate	1.04		1.04
HKD [Member] | Global Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Balance/Principal Outstanding	39,479	[4]	34,515	[3]
Weighted-average interest rate	1.46%		1.53%
Exchange rate	0.13		0.13
CAD [Member] | Global Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Balance/Principal Outstanding	$ 8,355	[4]
Weighted-average interest rate	2.30%
Exchange rate	0.98

[1] The interest rate for borrowings under the global revolving credit facility equals the applicable index plus a margin of 125 basis points which is based on the credit rating of our long-term debt. An annual facility fee of 25 basis points, which is based on the credit rating of our long-term debt, is due and payable quarterly on the total commitment amount of the facility.

[2] Balances as of March 31, 2013 and December 31, 2012 are as follows (balances, in thousands): Denomination of Draw Balance as of March 31, 2013 Weighted-average interest rate Balance as of December 31, 2012 Weighted-average interest rate U.S. dollar ($) $ 283,000 1.46% $ 49,000 2.05% British pound sterling (£) - - 433,195 (b) 1.75% Euro (€) 84,606 (a) 1.37% 87,074 (b) 1.36% Singapore dollar (SGD) 29,025 (a) 1.56% 26,191 (b) 1.56% Australian dollar (AUD) 102,184 (a) 4.32% 93,754 (b) 4.42% Hong Kong dollar (HKD) 39,479 (a) 1.46% 34,515 (b) 1.53% Canadian dollar (CAD) 8,355 (a) 2.30% - - Total $ 546,649 2.00% $ 723,729 2.05% (a) Based on exchange rates of $1.28 to €1.00, $0.81 to 1.00 SGD, $1.04 to 1.00 AUD, $0.13 to 1.00 HKD and $0.98 to 1.00 CAD as of March 31, 2013. (b) Based on exchange rates of $1.63 to £1.00, $1.32 to €1.00, $0.82 to 1.00 SGD, $1.04 to 1.00 AUD and $0.13 to 1.00 HKD as of December 31, 2012.

[3] Based on exchange rates of $1.63 to £1.00, $1.32 to €1.00, $0.82 to 1.00 SGD, $1.04 to 1.00 AUD and $0.13 to 1.00 HKD as of December 31, 2012.

[4] Based on exchange rates of $1.28 to €1.00, $0.81 to 1.00 SGD, $1.04 to 1.00 AUD, $0.13 to 1.00 HKD and $0.98 to 1.00 CAD as of March 31, 2013.