Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 51,681	$ 49,263
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	(2,335)	(1,389)
Change in fair value of accrued contingent consideration	1,300
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	1,625	1,500
Write-off of net assets due to early lease terminations	(36)
Depreciation and amortization of buildings and improvements, tenant improvements and acquired ground leases	93,286	69,216
Amortization of share-based unearned compensation	2,887	3,407
Allowance for doubtful accounts	1,100	1,025
Amortization of deferred financing costs	2,431	2,214
Amortization of debt discount/premium	160	242
Amortization of acquired in place lease value and deferred leasing costs	18,338	14,779
Amortization of acquired above market leases and acquired below market leases, net	(3,045)	(2,239)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Restricted cash	(62)	9,272
Accounts and other receivables	(15,584)	1,484
Deferred rent	(21,249)	(15,902)
Deferred leasing costs	(4,922)	(2,922)
Other assets	(10,858)	(11,473)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(28,858)	(36,159)
Security deposits and prepaid rents	3,182	(11,781)
Net cash provided by operating activities	89,041	70,537
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of real estate	(77,935)	(119,069)
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(5,647)	(3,796)
Investment in equity securities	(12,549)
Deposits paid for acquisitions of real estate	(250)	(7,132)
Receipt of value added tax refund	1,990	892
Refundable value added tax paid	(1,914)	(2,986)
Change in restricted cash	(359)	1,101
Improvements to and advances for investments in real estate	(258,731)	(185,964)
Improvement advances to tenants	(1,010)	(437)
Collection of advances from tenants for improvements	767	562
Net cash used in investing activities	(355,638)	(316,829)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on revolving credit facilities	492,643	525,037
Repayments on revolving credit facilites	(657,095)	(122,367)
Borrowings on 4.25% unsecured senior notes due 2025	630,026
Principal payments on mortgage loans	(3,896)	(76,643)
Change in restricted cash	76	1,603
Payment of loan fees and costs	(5,272)	18
Capital contributions received from noncontrolling interests in joint ventures	45	6,570
Gross proceeds from the issuance of common stock		63,346
Common stock offering costs paid	(95)	(634)
Preferred stock offering costs paid		(120)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	8	1,298
Payment of dividends/distributions to preferred stockholders/unitholders	(8,054)	(8,831)
Payment of dividends/distributions to common stockholders/unitholders and distributions to noncontrolling interests in operating partnership	(195,940)	(157,373)
Net cash provided by financing activities	252,446	231,904
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(14,151)	(14,388)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	56,281	40,631
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	42,130	26,243
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, including amounts capitalized	56,163	53,876
Cash paid for taxes	60	259
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in net assets related to foreign currency translation adjustments	(63,063)	19,303
Increase in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	(124)	(945)
Noncontrolling interests in operating partnership redeemed for or converted to shares of common stock	234	2,284
Preferred stock/units converted to shares of common stock/units	119,348	4
Accrual for additions to investments in real estate and tenant improvement advances included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	244,284	180,499
Additional accrual of contingent purchase price for investments in real estate	7,130
Allocation of purchase price of real estate/investment in partnership to:
Investments in real estate	69,149	122,433
Acquired above market leases	12
Acquired below market leases	(2,087)	(26,450)
Acquired in place lease value and deferred leasing costs	10,861	23,086
Cash paid for acquisition of real estate	77,935	119,069
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	51,681	49,263
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	(2,335)	(1,389)
Change in fair value of accrued contingent consideration	1,300
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	1,625	1,500
Write-off of net assets due to early lease terminations	(36)
Depreciation and amortization of buildings and improvements, tenant improvements and acquired ground leases	93,286	69,216
Amortization of share-based unearned compensation	2,887	3,407
Allowance for doubtful accounts	1,100	1,025
Amortization of deferred financing costs	2,431	2,214
Amortization of debt discount/premium	160	242
Amortization of acquired in place lease value and deferred leasing costs	18,338	14,779
Amortization of acquired above market leases and acquired below market leases, net	(3,045)	(2,239)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Restricted cash	(62)	9,272
Accounts and other receivables	(15,584)	1,484
Deferred rent	(21,249)	(15,902)
Deferred leasing costs	(4,922)	(2,922)
Other assets	(10,858)	(11,473)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(28,858)	(36,159)
Security deposits and prepaid rents	3,182	(11,781)
Net cash provided by operating activities	89,041	70,537
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of real estate	(77,935)	(119,069)
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(5,647)	(3,796)
Investment in equity securities	(12,549)
Deposits paid for acquisitions of real estate	(250)	(7,132)
Receipt of value added tax refund	1,990	892
Refundable value added tax paid	(1,914)	(2,986)
Change in restricted cash	(359)	1,101
Improvements to and advances for investments in real estate	(258,731)	(185,964)
Improvement advances to tenants	(1,010)	(437)
Collection of advances from tenants for improvements	767	562
Net cash used in investing activities	(355,638)	(316,829)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on revolving credit facilities	492,643	525,037
Repayments on revolving credit facilites	(657,095)	(122,367)
Borrowings on 4.25% unsecured senior notes due 2025	630,026
Principal payments on unsecured notes	(3,896)	(76,643)
Change in restricted cash	76	1,603
Payment of loan fees and costs	(5,272)	18
Capital contributions received from noncontrolling interests in joint ventures	45	6,570
General partner contributions	(87)	63,890
Payment of dividends/distributions to preferred stockholders/unitholders	(8,054)	(8,831)
Payment of dividends/distributions to common stockholders/unitholders and distributions to noncontrolling interests in operating partnership	(195,940)	(157,373)
Net cash provided by financing activities	252,446	231,904
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(14,151)	(14,388)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	56,281	40,631
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	42,130	26,243
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, including amounts capitalized	56,163	53,876
Cash paid for taxes	60	259
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in net assets related to foreign currency translation adjustments	(63,063)	19,303
Increase in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	(124)	(945)
Preferred stock/units converted to shares of common stock/units	119,348	4
Accrual for additions to investments in real estate and tenant improvement advances included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	244,284	180,499
Additional accrual of contingent purchase price for investments in real estate	7,130
Allocation of purchase price of real estate/investment in partnership to:
Investments in real estate	69,149	122,433
Acquired above market leases	12
Acquired below market leases	(2,087)	(26,450)
Acquired in place lease value and deferred leasing costs	10,861	23,086
Cash paid for acquisition of real estate	$ 77,935	$ 119,069