Debt of the Operating Partnership (Mortgage Loans) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2015		Dec. 31, 2014
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgage loans, net of premiums	$ 376,527		$ 378,818
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Mortgage loans, net of premiums	376,527		378,818
Unamortized net premiums	546
Total indebtedness	4,817,911		4,673,127
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Mortgage Loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized net premiums	546		582
Total indebtedness	376,527		378,818
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Mortgage Loans | 200 Paul Avenue
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate at March 31, 2015	5.74%	[1]
Maturity Date	Oct. 08, 2015	[1]
Mortgage loans, net of premiums	68,121	[1]	68,665	[1]
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Mortgage Loans | 2045 & 2055 Lafayette Street
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate at March 31, 2015	5.93%	[1]
Maturity Date	Feb. 06, 2017	[1]
Mortgage loans, net of premiums	62,275	[1]	62,563	[1]
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Mortgage Loans | 34551 Ardenwood Boulevard 1-4
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate at March 31, 2015	5.95%	[1]
Maturity Date	Nov. 11, 2016	[1]
Mortgage loans, net of premiums	51,118	[1]	51,339	[1]
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Mortgage Loans | 1100 Space Park Drive
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate at March 31, 2015	5.89%	[1]
Maturity Date	Dec. 11, 2016	[1]
Mortgage loans, net of premiums	51,071	[1]	51,295	[1]
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Mortgage Loans | 600 West Seventh Street
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate at March 31, 2015	5.80%
Maturity Date	Mar. 15, 2016
Mortgage loans, net of premiums	47,379		47,825
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Mortgage Loans | 150 South First Street
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate at March 31, 2015	6.30%	[1]
Maturity Date	Feb. 06, 2017	[1]
Mortgage loans, net of premiums	49,103	[1]	49,316	[1]
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Mortgage Loans | 2334 Lundy Place
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate at March 31, 2015	5.96%	[1]
Maturity Date	Nov. 11, 2016	[1]
Mortgage loans, net of premiums	37,179	[1]	37,340	[1]
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Mortgage Loans | 8025 North Interstate 35
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate at March 31, 2015	4.09%
Maturity Date	Mar. 06, 2016
Mortgage loans, net of premiums	5,991		6,057
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Mortgage Loans | 731 East Trade Street
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest Rate at March 31, 2015	8.22%
Maturity Date	Jul. 01, 2020
Mortgage loans, net of premiums	$ 3,744		$ 3,836

[1] The respective borrower’s assets and credit are not available to satisfy the debts and other obligations of affiliates or any other person.