Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) (USD $)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Accounts and other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $6,439 and $6,302 as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively	$ 6,439,000	$ 6,302,000
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	135,793,668	135,626,255
Common Stock, shares outstanding	135,793,668	135,626,255
Series E Preferred Units
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	7.00%	7.00%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	287,500,000	287,500,000
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock, issued (shares)	11,500,000	11,500,000
Preferred Stock, outstanding	11,500,000	11,500,000
Series F Preferred Units
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	6.625%	6.625%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	182,500,000	182,500,000
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock, issued (shares)	7,300,000	7,300,000
Preferred Stock, outstanding	7,300,000	7,300,000
Series G Preferred Units
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	5.875%	5.875%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	250,000,000	250,000,000
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock, issued (shares)	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred Stock, outstanding	10,000,000	10,000,000
Series H Preferred Units
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	7.375%	7.375%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	365,000,000	365,000,000
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock, issued (shares)	14,600,000	14,600,000
Preferred Stock, outstanding	14,600,000	14,600,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Accounts and other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $6,439 and $6,302 as of March 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively	6,439,000	6,302,000
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 Units, issued	135,793,668	135,626,255
Common Units, outstanding	135,793,668	135,626,255
Limited Partners, common units	1,425,314	1,463,814
Limited Partners, profits interest units	1,120,160	1,170,610
Limited Partners, Class C units outstanding	379,237	379,237
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series E Preferred Units
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	7.00%	7.00%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	287,500,000	287,500,000
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. | Series F Preferred Units
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	6.625%	6.625%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	182,500,000	182,500,000
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. | Series G Preferred Units
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	5.875%	5.875%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	250,000,000	250,000,000
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. | Series H Preferred Units
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	7.375%	7.375%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 365,000,000	$ 365,000,000
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Preferred Units, issued	14,600,000	14,600,000
Preferred Units, outstanding	14,600,000	14,600,000