Income Per Unit (Summary Of Basic And Diluted Earnings Per Share) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, except Share data, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Net income available to common unitholders	$ 34,186	$ 42,657
Weighted average units outstanding-basic	128,535,995	126,445,285
Stock options	51,909	70,877
Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred	388,340
Unvested incentive units	160,717	222,177
Weighted average shares/units outstanding-diluted	129,136,961	126,738,339
Basic	$ 0.27	$ 0.34
Diluted	$ 0.26	$ 0.34
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Net income available to common unitholders	$ 34,879	$ 43,481
Weighted average units outstanding-basic	131,142,664	128,888,041
Stock options	51,909	70,877
Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred	388,340
Unvested incentive units	160,717	222,177
Weighted average shares/units outstanding-diluted	131,743,630	129,181,095
Basic	$ 0.27	$ 0.34
Diluted	$ 0.26	$ 0.34