Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2013	Jun. 30, 2012
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 111,302	$ 103,231
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on insurance settlement	(5,597)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	(4,665)	(4,882)
Change in fair value of accrued contingent consideration	930
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	2,875	16,498
Write-off of net assets due to early lease terminations	(53)	337
Depreciation and amortization of buildings and improvements, tenant improvements and acquired ground leases	189,997	142,870
Amortization of share-based unearned compensation	6,468	7,181
Allowance for (recovery of) doubtful accounts	(6)	188
Amortization of deferred financing costs	4,902	4,013
Write-off of deferred financing costs, included in loss on early extinguishment of debt	501	254
Amortization of debt discount/premium	340	480
Amortization of acquired in place lease value and deferred leasing costs	37,494	30,124
Amortization of acquired above market leases and acquired below market leases, net	(6,085)	(5,110)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Restricted cash	5,138	13,225
Accounts and other receivables	4,183	(3,413)
Deferred rent	(41,141)	(35,551)
Deferred leasing costs	(9,014)	(8,520)
Other assets	(10,065)	(8,757)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(10,614)	(12,384)
Security deposits and prepaid rents	(1,383)	(8,584)
Net cash provided by operating activities	275,507	231,200
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of real estate	(117,289)	(222,105)
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(5,654)	(30,592)
Investment in equity securities	(17,100)
Deposits paid for acquisitions of real estate	(2,250)	(500)
Receipt of value added tax refund	4,740	6,793
Refundable value added tax paid	(5,002)	(9,269)
Change in restricted cash	(862)	3,857
Improvements to and advances for investments in real estate	(577,075)	(394,245)
Improvement advances to tenants	(1,758)	(1,798)
Proceeds from insurance settlements	8,625
Collection of advances from tenants for improvements	1,377	1,427
Net cash used in investing activities	(712,248)	(646,432)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments on other secured loan		(10,500)
Principal payments on mortgage loans	(46,700)	(106,124)
Earnout payment related to Sentrum acquisition	(10,009)
Change in restricted cash	406	2,507
Payment of loan fees and costs	(6,720)	(5,452)
Capital contributions received from noncontrolling interests in joint ventures	925	2,253
Gross proceeds from the issuance of common stock		63,346
Gross proceeds from the issuance of preferred stock	250,000	182,500
Common stock offering costs paid	(290)	(583)
Preferred stock offering costs paid	(8,435)	(6,367)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	50	2,005
Payment of dividends/distributions to preferred stockholders/unitholders	(19,453)	(19,144)
Payment of dividends/distributions to common stockholders/unitholders and distributions to noncontrolling interests in operating partnership	(298,447)	(241,354)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures		12,384
Net cash provided by financing activities	404,720	422,378
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(32,021)	7,146
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	56,281	40,631
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	24,260	47,777
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, including amounts capitalized	91,726	81,322
Cash paid for taxes	1,649	1,517
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in net assets related to foreign currency translation adjustments	(62,755)	1,301
Increase in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	6,499	(2,888)
Noncontrolling interests in operating partnership redeemed for or converted to shares of common stock	284	3,221
Preferred stock/units converted to shares of common stock/units	119,348	124,139
Accrual for additions to investments in real estate and tenant improvement advances included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	237,933	215,456
Additional accrual of contingent purchase price for investments in real estate	5,840
Allocation of purchase price of real estate/investment in partnership to:
Investments in real estate	105,521	226,855
Acquired above market leases	(203)
Acquired below market leases	(4,136)	(36,708)
Acquired in place lease value and deferred leasing costs	(15,701)	(38,848)
Mortgage loans assumed, net of premium		(6,890)
Cash paid for acquisition of real estate	117,289	222,105
4.250% Notes Due 2025 [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on 4.250% unsecured senior notes due 2025	630,026
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	111,302	103,231
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on insurance settlement	(5,597)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	(4,665)	(4,882)
Change in fair value of accrued contingent consideration	930
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	2,875	16,498
Write-off of net assets due to early lease terminations	(53)	337
Depreciation and amortization of buildings and improvements, tenant improvements and acquired ground leases	189,997	142,870
Amortization of share-based unearned compensation	6,468	7,181
Allowance for (recovery of) doubtful accounts	(6)	188
Amortization of deferred financing costs	4,902	4,013
Write-off of deferred financing costs, included in loss on early extinguishment of debt	501	254
Amortization of debt discount/premium	340	480
Amortization of acquired in place lease value and deferred leasing costs	37,494	30,124
Amortization of acquired above market leases and acquired below market leases, net	(6,085)	(5,110)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Restricted cash	5,138	13,225
Accounts and other receivables	4,183	(3,413)
Deferred rent	(41,141)	(35,551)
Deferred leasing costs	(9,014)	(8,520)
Other assets	(10,065)	(8,757)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(10,614)	(12,384)
Security deposits and prepaid rents	(1,383)	(8,584)
Net cash provided by operating activities	275,507	231,200
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of real estate	(117,289)	(222,105)
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(5,654)	(30,592)
Investment in equity securities	(17,100)
Deposits paid for acquisitions of real estate	(2,250)	(500)
Receipt of value added tax refund	4,740	6,793
Refundable value added tax paid	(5,002)	(9,269)
Change in restricted cash	(862)	3,857
Improvements to and advances for investments in real estate	(577,075)	(394,245)
Improvement advances to tenants	(1,758)	(1,798)
Proceeds from insurance settlements	8,625
Collection of advances from tenants for improvements	1,377	1,427
Net cash used in investing activities	(712,248)	(646,432)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments on other secured loan		(10,500)
Principal payments on mortgage loans	(46,700)	(106,124)
Earnout payment related to Sentrum acquisition	(10,009)
Change in restricted cash	406	2,507
Payment of loan fees and costs	(6,720)	(5,452)
Capital contributions received from noncontrolling interests in joint ventures	925	2,253
General partner contributions	241,325	240,901
Payment of dividends/distributions to preferred stockholders/unitholders	(19,453)	(19,144)
Payment of dividends/distributions to common stockholders/unitholders and distributions to noncontrolling interests in operating partnership	(298,447)	(241,354)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures		12,384
Net cash provided by financing activities	404,720	422,378
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(32,021)	7,146
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	56,281	40,631
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	24,260	47,777
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, including amounts capitalized	91,726	81,322
Cash paid for taxes	1,649	1,517
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in net assets related to foreign currency translation adjustments	(62,755)	1,301
Increase in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	6,499	(2,888)
Preferred stock/units converted to shares of common stock/units	119,348	124,139
Accrual for additions to investments in real estate and tenant improvement advances included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	237,933	215,456
Additional accrual of contingent purchase price for investments in real estate	5,840
Allocation of purchase price of real estate/investment in partnership to:
Investments in real estate	105,521	226,855
Acquired above market leases	203
Acquired below market leases	(4,136)	(36,708)
Acquired in place lease value and deferred leasing costs	15,701	38,848
Mortgage loans assumed, net of premium		(6,890)
Cash paid for acquisition of real estate	117,289	222,105
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member] | 4.250% Notes Due 2025 [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on 4.250% unsecured senior notes due 2025	630,026
Global Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on lines of credit	845,592	869,848
Repayments on revolving credit facility	(932,225)	(824,802)
Global Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on lines of credit	845,592	869,848
Repayments on revolving credit facility	(932,225)	(824,802)
Unsecured Term Loan [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on lines of credit		526,628
Unsecured Term Loan [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on lines of credit		$ 526,628