Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2013
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 46,717	$ 51,681
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on contribution of investment property to unconsolidated joint venture	(1,906)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	(2,581)	(2,335)
Change in fair value of accrued contingent consideration	(3,403)	1,300
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	2,214	1,625
Write-off of net assets due to early lease terminations		(36)
Depreciation and amortization of buildings and improvements, tenant improvements and acquired ground leases	111,142	93,286
Amortization of share-based unearned compensation	8,985	2,887
Allowance for doubtful accounts	1,580	1,100
Amortization of deferred financing costs	2,085	2,431
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	292
Amortization of debt discount/premium	385	160
Amortization of acquired-in place lease value and deferred leasing costs	19,478	18,338
Amortization of acquired above-market leases and acquired below-market leases, net	(2,788)	(3,045)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Restricted cash	(1,589)	(62)
Accounts and other receivables	2,129	(15,584)
Deferred rent	(21,335)	(21,249)
Deferred leasing costs	(6,798)	(4,922)
Other assets	(14,227)	(10,858)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(26,051)	(28,858)
Security deposits and prepaid rents	2,082	3,182
Net cash provided by operating activities	116,411	89,041
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of real estate		(77,935)
Proceeds from contribution of investment property to unconsolidated joint venture	11,408
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(10,564)	(5,647)
Investment in equity securities	(5)	(12,549)
Deposits paid for acquisitions of real estate		(250)
Receipt of value added tax refund	425	1,990
Refundable value added tax paid	(2,289)	(1,914)
Change in restricted cash	(814)	(359)
Improvements to and advances for investments in real estate	(224,118)	(258,731)
Improvement advances to tenants	(2,499)	(1,010)
Collection of advances from tenants for improvements	912	767
Net cash used in investing activities	(227,544)	(355,638)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	433,297	492,643
Repayments on revolving credit facility	(371,351)	(657,095)
Borrowings on 4.250% unsecured senior notes due 2025		630,026
Principal payments on mortgage loans	(3,343)	(3,896)
Change in restricted cash	(68)	76
Payment of loan fees and costs	(150)	(5,272)
Capital contributions received from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures		45
Gross proceeds from the issuance of preferred stock	300,000
Common stock offering costs paid	(100)	(95)
Preferred stock offering costs paid	(10,143)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	38	8
Payment of dividends/distributions to preferred stockholders/unitholders	(11,726)	(8,054)
Payment of dividends/distributions to common stockholders/unitholders and distributions to noncontrolling interests in operating partnership	(211,887)	(195,940)
Net cash provided by financing activities	124,567	252,446
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	13,434	(14,151)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	56,808	56,281
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	70,242	42,130
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, including amounts capitalized	67,824	56,163
Cash paid for income taxes	863	60
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in net assets related to foreign currency translation adjustments	3,819	(63,063)
Increase in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	(1,343)	(124)
Noncontrolling interests in operating partnership redeemed for or converted to shares of common stock	51	234
Preferred stock/units converted to shares of common stock/units		119,348
Accrual for additions to investments in real estate and tenant improvement advances included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	197,376	244,284
Additional accrual of contingent purchase price for investments in real estate		7,130
Allocation of purchase price of real estate/investment in partnership to:
Investments in real estate		69,149
Acquired above-market leases		12
Acquired below-market leases		(2,087)
Acquired-in place lease value and deferred leasing costs		10,861
Cash paid for acquisition of real estate		77,935
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	46,717	51,681
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on contribution of investment property to unconsolidated joint venture	(1,906)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	(2,581)	(2,335)
Change in fair value of accrued contingent consideration	(3,403)	1,300
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	2,214	1,625
Write-off of net assets due to early lease terminations		(36)
Depreciation and amortization of buildings and improvements, tenant improvements and acquired ground leases	111,142	93,286
Amortization of share-based unearned compensation	8,985	2,887
Allowance for doubtful accounts	1,580	1,100
Amortization of deferred financing costs	2,085	2,431
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	292
Amortization of debt discount/premium	385	160
Amortization of acquired-in place lease value and deferred leasing costs	19,478	18,338
Amortization of acquired above-market leases and acquired below-market leases, net	(2,788)	(3,045)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Restricted cash	(1,589)	(62)
Accounts and other receivables	2,129	(15,584)
Deferred rent	(21,335)	(21,249)
Deferred leasing costs	(6,798)	(4,922)
Other assets	(14,227)	(10,858)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(26,051)	(28,858)
Security deposits and prepaid rents	2,082	3,182
Net cash provided by operating activities	116,411	89,041
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of real estate		(77,935)
Proceeds from contribution of investment property to unconsolidated joint venture	11,408
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(10,564)	(5,647)
Investment in equity securities	(5)	(12,549)
Deposits paid for acquisitions of real estate		(250)
Receipt of value added tax refund	425	1,990
Refundable value added tax paid	(2,289)	(1,914)
Change in restricted cash	(814)	(359)
Improvements to and advances for investments in real estate	(224,118)	(258,731)
Improvement advances to tenants	(2,499)	(1,010)
Collection of advances from tenants for improvements	912	767
Net cash used in investing activities	(227,544)	(355,638)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	433,297	492,643
Repayments on revolving credit facility	(371,351)	(657,095)
Borrowings on 4.250% unsecured senior notes due 2025		630,026
Principal payments on mortgage loans	(3,343)	(3,896)
Change in restricted cash	(68)	76
Payment of loan fees and costs	(150)	(5,272)
Capital contributions received from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures		45
General partner contributions	289,795	(87)
Payment of dividends/distributions to preferred stockholders/unitholders	(11,726)	(8,054)
Payment of dividends/distributions to common stockholders/unitholders and distributions to noncontrolling interests in operating partnership	(211,887)	(195,940)
Net cash provided by financing activities	124,567	252,446
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents	13,434	(14,151)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	56,808	56,281
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	70,242	42,130
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, including amounts capitalized	67,824	56,163
Cash paid for income taxes	863	60
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in net assets related to foreign currency translation adjustments	3,819	(63,063)
Increase in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	(1,343)	(124)
Preferred stock/units converted to shares of common stock/units		119,348
Accrual for additions to investments in real estate and tenant improvement advances included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	197,376	244,284
Additional accrual of contingent purchase price for investments in real estate		7,130
Allocation of purchase price of real estate/investment in partnership to:
Investments in real estate		69,149
Acquired above-market leases		12
Acquired below-market leases		(2,087)
Acquired-in place lease value and deferred leasing costs		10,861
Cash paid for acquisition of real estate		$ 77,935