Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Properties:
Land	$ 685,640	$ 693,791
Acquired ground leases	14,680	14,618
Buildings and improvements	8,834,693	8,680,677
Tenant improvements	490,697	490,492
Total investments in properties	10,025,710	9,879,578
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(1,665,421)	(1,565,996)
Net investments in properties	8,360,289	8,313,582
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	81,411	70,504
Net investments in real estate	8,441,700	8,384,086
Cash and cash equivalents	70,242	56,808
Accounts and other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $7,156 and $5,576 as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively	181,433	181,163
Deferred rent	415,515	393,504
Acquired above-market leases, net	49,521	52,264
Acquired in-place lease value and deferred leasing costs, net	479,940	489,456
Deferred financing costs, net	34,295	36,475
Restricted cash	42,842	40,362
Assets held for sale	25,070
Other assets	64,836	51,627
Total assets	9,805,394	9,685,745
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY/CAPITAL
Line of credit	1,026,891	1,020,984
Unsecured senior notes, net of discount	2,368,848	2,364,232
Exchangeable senior debentures	266,400	266,400
Mortgage loans, net of premiums	554,742	585,608
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	614,645	662,687
Accrued dividends and distributions		102,509
Acquired below-market leases, net	123,152	130,269
Security deposits and prepaid rents	180,886	181,876
Liabilities associated with assets held for sale	3,610
Total liabilities	5,929,674	6,039,233
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Common Stock: $0.01 par value, 215,000,000 shares authorized, 128,606,462 and 128,455,350 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively	1,279	1,279
Additional paid-in capital	3,689,098	3,688,937
Accumulated dividends in excess of earnings	(857,779)	(785,222)
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net	13,947	10,691
Total stockholders' equity	3,831,233	3,610,516
Noncontrolling Interests:
Noncontrolling interests in operating partnership	37,406	29,027
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures	7,081	6,969
Total noncontrolling interests	44,487	35,996
Total equity	3,875,720	3,646,512
Total liabilities and equity/capital	9,805,394	9,685,745
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Properties:
Land	685,640	693,791
Acquired ground leases	14,680	14,618
Buildings and improvements	8,834,693	8,680,677
Tenant improvements	490,697	490,492
Total investments in properties	10,025,710	9,879,578
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(1,665,421)	(1,565,996)
Net investments in properties	8,360,289	8,313,582
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	81,411	70,504
Net investments in real estate	8,441,700	8,384,086
Cash and cash equivalents	70,242	56,808
Accounts and other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $7,156 and $5,576 as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively	181,433	181,163
Deferred rent	415,515	393,504
Acquired above-market leases, net	49,521	52,264
Acquired in-place lease value and deferred leasing costs, net	479,940	489,456
Deferred financing costs, net	34,295	36,475
Restricted cash	42,842	40,362
Assets held for sale	25,070
Other assets	64,836	51,627
Total assets	9,805,394	9,685,745
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY/CAPITAL
Unsecured senior notes, net of discount	2,368,848	2,364,232
Exchangeable senior debentures	266,400	266,400
Mortgage loans, net of premiums	554,742	585,608
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	614,645	662,687
Accrued dividends and distributions		102,509
Acquired below-market leases, net	123,152	130,269
Security deposits and prepaid rents	180,886	181,876
Liabilities associated with assets held for sale	3,610
Total liabilities	5,929,674	6,039,233
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
128,606,462 and 128,455,350 units issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively	2,832,598	2,904,994
Limited partners, 1,491,814 and 1,491,814 common units, 1,236,428 and 1,077,838 profits interest units and 397,369 and 397,369 class C units outstanding as of March 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively	39,574	31,261
Accumulated other comprehensive income, net	11,779	8,457
Total partners' capital	3,868,639	3,639,543
Noncontrolling Interests:
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures	7,081	6,969
Total capital	3,875,720	3,646,512
Total liabilities and equity/capital	9,805,394	9,685,745
Series E Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock/Units [Member]
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred Stock	277,172	277,172
Series E Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock/Units [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred Stock	277,172	277,172
Series F Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock/Units [Member]
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred Stock	176,191	176,191
Series F Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock/Units [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred Stock	176,191	176,191
Series G Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock/Units [Member]
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred Stock	241,468	241,468
Series G Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock/Units [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred Stock	241,468	241,468
Series H Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock/Units [Member]
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred Stock	289,857
Series H Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock/Units [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred Stock	289,857
Global Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY/CAPITAL
Line of credit	790,500	724,668
Unsecured Term Loan [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY/CAPITAL
Line of credit	790,500	724,668
Unsecured Term Loan [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY/CAPITAL
Line of credit	$ 1,026,891	$ 1,020,984