Subsequent Events (Narrative) (Details) (USD $)				3 Months Ended	0 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	May 06, 2013 Subsequent Event [Member]	Mar. 31, 2013 Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Apr. 09, 2013 Series G Cumulative Convertible Preferred Units [Member] [Member] Subsequent Event [Member]
Subsequent Event [Line Items]
Shares issued				$ (95,000)	$ 10,000,000
Interest rate					5.875%
Total net proceeds, after underwriting discounts and estimated offering expenses					$ 241,500,000
Common Stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common Stock, authorized	165,000,000	165,000,000	215,000,000
Preferred Stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred Stock, authorized	30,000,000	30,000,000	70,000,000