Debt Of The Operating Partnership (Schedule Of Debt Maturities And Principal Maturities) (Details) (USD $)	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013		Dec. 31, 2012
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Total, Unsecured Debt	$ 2,341,972,000		$ 1,738,221,000
Total, Exchangeable Senior Debentures	266,400,000		266,400,000
Total, Mortgage Loans	779,273,000		792,376,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Remainder of 2012	218,654,000
2013	480,484,000
2014	1,064,142,000
2015	216,979,000
2016	906,225,000
Thereafter	1,810,290,000
Subtotal	4,696,774,000
Unamortized discounts	(15,948,000)
Unamortized premium	1,298,000
Total, Unsecured Debt	2,341,972,000		1,738,221,000
Total, Exchangeable Senior Debentures	266,400,000		266,400,000
Total, Mortgage Loans	779,273,000		792,376,000
Total Indebtedness	4,682,124,000		4,278,565,000
Global Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Total, Credit Facility	546,649,000		723,729,000
Global Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
2014	546,649,000	[1]
Subtotal	546,649,000	[1]
Total, Credit Facility	546,649,000	[1]	723,729,000
Revolving credit facility commitments extension (years)	1 year
Unsecured Term Loan [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Total, Credit Facility	747,830,000		757,839,000
Unsecured Term Loan [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
2016	747,830,000
Subtotal	747,830,000
Total, Credit Facility	747,830,000		757,839,000
Prudential Shelf Facility [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Remainder of 2012	33,000,000
2014	67,000,000
2015	25,000,000
2016	50,000,000
Subtotal	175,000,000		175,000,000
Total, Unsecured Debt	175,000,000
Senior Notes [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
2014	375,000,000
Thereafter	1,807,920,000
Subtotal	2,182,920,000
Unamortized discounts	(15,948,000)		(11,779,000)
Total, Unsecured Debt	2,166,972,000		1,563,221,000
Total, Senior Notes	2,166,972,000
Exchangeable Senior Debentures [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
2013	266,400,000	[2]
Subtotal	266,400,000	[2]
Total, Exchangeable Senior Debentures	266,400,000	[2]	266,400,000
First redemption date	Apr. 01, 2014
Mortgage Loans [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Remainder of 2012	185,654,000	[3]
2013	214,084,000	[3]
2014	75,493,000	[3]
2015	191,979,000	[3]
2016	108,395,000	[3]
Thereafter	2,370,000	[3]
Subtotal	777,975,000	[3]
Unamortized premium	1,298,000	[3]	1,542,000
Total, Mortgage Loans	779,273,000	[3]	792,376,000
Limited recourse guarantees	38,500,000
Partial letter of credit	$ 34,700,000

[1] Subject to a one-year extension option exercisable by us. The bank group is obligated to grant the extension option provided we give proper notice, we make certain representations and warranties and no default exists under the global revolving credit facility.

[2] Assumes maturity of the 2029 Debentures at their first redemption date in April 2014.

[3] Our mortgage loans are generally non-recourse to us, subject to carve-outs for specified actions by us or specified undisclosed environmental liabilities. As of March 31, 2013, we provided limited recourse guarantees with respect to approximately $38.5 million of the outstanding mortgage indebtedness, and partial letter of credit support with respect to approximately an additional $34.7 million of the outstanding mortgage indebtedness (based on exchange rates as of March 31, 2013).