Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Accounts and other receivables, allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 7,156,000	$ 5,576,000
Below market leases, accumulated amortization	167,213,000	161,369,000
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	128,606,462	128,455,350
Common Stock, shares outstanding	128,606,462	128,455,350
Acquired Above-Market Lease Value [Member]
Accumulated amortization	83,543,000	80,486,000
Series E Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock/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	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Preferred Stock, issued	11,500,000	11,500,000
Preferred Stock, outstanding	11,500,000	11,500,000
Series F Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock/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	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Preferred Stock, issued	7,300,000	7,300,000
Preferred Stock, outstanding	7,300,000	7,300,000
Series G Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock/Units [Member]
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	5.875%	5.875%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	250,000	250,000
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Preferred Stock, issued	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred Stock, outstanding	10,000,000	10,000,000
Series H Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock/Units [Member]
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	7.375%	7.375%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	300,000	0
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Preferred Stock, issued	12,000,000	0
Preferred Stock, outstanding	12,000,000	0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Accounts and other receivables, allowance for doubtful accounts	7,156,000	5,576,000
Common Units, issued	128,606,462	128,455,350
Common Units, outstanding	128,606,462	128,455,350
Limited Partners, common units	1,491,814	1,491,814
Limited Partners, profits interest units	1,236,428	1,077,838
Limited Partners, Class C units outstanding	397,369	397,369
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member] | Series E Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock/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	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
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 Stock/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	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
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 Stock/Units [Member]
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	5.875%	5.875%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	250,000	250,000
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Preferred Units, issued	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred Units, outstanding	10,000,000	10,000,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member] | Series H Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock/Units [Member]
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	7.375%	7.375%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 300,000	$ 0
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Preferred Stock, issued	14,600,000
Preferred Units, issued	12,000,000	0
Preferred Units, outstanding	12,000,000	0