Debt Of The Operating Partnership (Schedule Of Debt Maturities And Principal Maturities) (Details) (USD $)	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2013 item		Dec. 31, 2012
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Total, Unsecured Debt	$ 2,382,059,000		$ 1,738,221,000
Total, Exchangeable Senior Debentures	266,400,000		266,400,000
Total, Mortgage Loans	683,651,000		792,376,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Remainder of 2013	159,751,000
2014	444,251,000
2015	517,493,000
2016	216,979,000
2017	1,606,682,000
Thereafter	1,849,809,000
Subtotal	4,794,965,000
Unamortized discounts	(15,381,000)
Unamortized premium	813,000
Total, Unsecured Debt	2,382,059,000		1,738,221,000
Total, Exchangeable Senior Debentures	266,400,000		266,400,000
Total, Mortgage Loans	683,651,000		792,376,000
Total Indebtedness	4,780,397,000		4,278,565,000
Global Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Total, Credit Facility	498,082,000		723,729,000
Global Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
2017	498,082,000	[1]
Subtotal	498,082,000	[1]
Total, Credit Facility	498,082,000	[1]	723,729,000
Number of extension options	2
Revolving credit facility commitments extension (years)	6 months
Unsecured Term Loan [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Total, Credit Facility	950,205,000		757,839,000
Unsecured Term Loan [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
2017	950,205,000	[1]
Subtotal	950,205,000	[1]
Total, Credit Facility	950,205,000	[1]	757,839,000
Number of extension options	2
Revolving credit facility commitments extension (years)	6 months
Prudential Shelf Facility [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Remainder of 2013	33,000,000
2015	67,000,000
2016	25,000,000
2017	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]
2015	375,000,000
Thereafter	1,847,440,000
Subtotal	2,222,440,000
Unamortized discounts	(15,381,000)		(11,779,000)
Total, Unsecured Debt	2,207,059,000		1,563,221,000
Total, Senior Notes	2,207,059,000
Exchangeable Senior Debentures [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
2014	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 2013	126,751,000	[3]
2014	177,851,000	[3]
2015	75,493,000	[3]
2016	191,979,000	[3]
2017	108,395,000	[3]
Thereafter	2,369,000	[3]
Subtotal	682,838,000	[3]
Unamortized premium	813,000	[3]	1,542,000
Total, Mortgage Loans	683,651,000	[3]	792,376,000
Partial letter of credit	$ 36,600,000

[1] Subject to two six-month extension options exercisable by us. The bank group is obligated to grant the extension options provided we give proper notice, we make certain representations and warranties and no default exists under the global revolving credit facility and the unsecured term loan, as applicable.

[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 September 30, 2013, we provided partial letter of credit support with respect to approximately $36.6 million of the outstanding mortgage indebtedness (based on exchange rates as of September 30, 2013).