Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	0 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Apr. 09, 2013	Sep. 30, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012
Accounts and other receivables, allowance for doubtful accounts		$ 5,269	$ 3,609
Preferred Stock, par value		$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred Stock, authorized		70,000,000	70,000,000
Common Stock, par value		$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common Stock, authorized		215,000,000	215,000,000
Common Stock, shares issued		128,438,970	125,140,783
Common Stock, shares outstanding		128,438,970	125,140,783
Series D Cumulative Convertible Preferred Units [Member]
Preferred Stock, dividend rate		5.50%	5.50%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value		0	123,413
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit		$ 25	$ 25
Preferred Stock, issued		0	4,936,505
Preferred Stock, outstanding		0	4,936,505
Series E Cumulative Convertible Preferred Units [Member]
Preferred Stock, dividend rate		7.00%	7.00%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value		287,500	287,500
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit		$ 25	$ 25
Preferred Stock, issued		11,500,000	11,500,000
Preferred Stock, outstanding		11,500,000	11,500,000
Series F Cumulative Convertible Preferred Units [Member]
Preferred Stock, dividend rate		6.625%	6.625%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value		182,500	182,500
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit		$ 25	$ 25
Preferred Stock, issued		7,300,000	7,300,000
Preferred Stock, outstanding		7,300,000	7,300,000
Series G Cumulative Convertible Preferred Units [Member] [Member]
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	5.875%	5.875%	5.875%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value		250,000	0
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25.00	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred Stock, issued	10,000,000	10,000,000	0
Preferred Stock, outstanding		10,000,000	0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Accounts and other receivables, allowance for doubtful accounts		5,269	3,609
Common Units, issued		128,438,970	125,140,783
Common Units, outstanding		128,438,970	125,140,783
Limited Partners, common units		1,500,814	1,515,814
Limited Partners, profits interest units		1,083,848	937,208
Limited Partners, Class C units outstanding		397,369	398,378
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member] | Series D Cumulative Convertible Preferred Units [Member]
Preferred Stock, dividend rate		5.50%	5.50%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value		0	123,413
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit		$ 25	$ 25
Preferred Units, issued		0	4,936,505
Preferred Units, outstanding		0	4,936,505
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member] | Series E Cumulative Convertible Preferred Units [Member]
Preferred Stock, dividend rate		7.00%	7.00%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value		287,500	287,500
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit		$ 25	$ 25
Preferred Units, issued		11,500,000	11,500,000
Preferred Units, outstanding		11,500,000	11,500,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member] | Series F Cumulative Convertible Preferred Units [Member]
Preferred Stock, dividend rate		6.625%	6.625%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value		182,500	182,500
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit		$ 25	$ 25
Preferred Units, issued		7,300,000	7,300,000
Preferred Units, outstanding		7,300,000	7,300,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member] | Series G Cumulative Convertible Preferred Units [Member] [Member]
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	5.875%	5.875%	5.875%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value		$ 250,000	$ 0
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25.00	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred Stock, issued	10,000,000	10,000,000	0
Preferred Stock, outstanding		10,000,000	0