Debt Of The Operating Partnership (Summary Of Outstanding Indebtedness Of The Operating Partnership - Unsecured Senior Notes) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014		Dec. 31, 2013
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured senior notes, net of discount	$ 2,368,848		$ 2,364,232
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Subtotal	5,021,324
Unamortized discounts	(14,632)
Unsecured senior notes, net of discount	2,368,848		2,364,232
Prudential Shelf Facility [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Subtotal	142,000		142,000
Prudential Shelf Facility [Member] | Series C [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	9.68%
Maturity Date	Jan. 06, 2016
Subtotal	25,000	[1]	25,000
Prudential Shelf Facility [Member] | Series D [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	4.57%
Maturity Date	Jan. 20, 2015
Subtotal	50,000		50,000
Prudential Shelf Facility [Member] | Series E [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	5.73%
Maturity Date	Jan. 20, 2017
Subtotal	50,000		50,000
Prudential Shelf Facility [Member] | Series F [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	4.50%
Maturity Date	Feb. 03, 2015
Subtotal	17,000		17,000
Senior Notes [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Subtotal	2,241,480
Unamortized discounts	(14,632)		(15,048)
Unsecured senior notes, net of discount	2,226,848		2,222,232
Senior Notes [Member] | 4.50% Notes Due 2015 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	4.50%
Senior Notes [Member] | 4.50% Notes Due 2015 [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	4.50%
Maturity Date	Jul. 15, 2015
Subtotal	375,000		375,000
Senior Notes [Member] | 5.875% Notes Due 2020 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	5.875%
Senior Notes [Member] | 5.875% Notes Due 2020 [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	5.875%
Maturity Date	Feb. 01, 2020
Subtotal	500,000		500,000
Senior Notes [Member] | 5.25% Notes Due 2021 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	5.25%
Senior Notes [Member] | 5.25% Notes Due 2021 [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	5.25%
Maturity Date	Mar. 15, 2021
Subtotal	400,000		400,000
Senior Notes [Member] | 3.625% Notes Due 2022 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	3.625%
Senior Notes [Member] | 3.625% Notes Due 2022 [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	3.625%
Maturity Date	Oct. 01, 2022
Subtotal	300,000		300,000
Senior Notes [Member] | 4.25% Notes Due 2025 [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	4.25%
Senior Notes [Member] | 4.25% Notes Due 2025 [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate	4.25%
Maturity Date	Jan. 17, 2025
Subtotal	$ 666,480	[2]	$ 662,280	[2]

[1] On March 5, 2014, we contributed this property to our joint venture with an investment fund managed by Prudential Real Estate Investors which was formed in September 2013. Also on March 5, 2014, the joint venture assumed the debt and repaid in full the outstanding balance of $26.1 million on the mortgage loan.

[2] Based on exchange rate of $1.67 to £1.00 as of March 31, 2014 and $1.66 to £1.00 as of December 31, 2013.