Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Properties:
Land	$ 689,573	$ 671,602
Acquired ground leases	12,639	12,196
Buildings and improvements	9,676,427	8,823,814
Tenant improvements	536,734	475,000
Total investments in properties	10,915,373	9,982,612
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(2,251,268)	(1,874,054)
Net investments in properties	8,664,105	8,108,558
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	106,107	94,729
Net investments in real estate	8,770,212	8,203,287
Cash and cash equivalents	57,053	34,814
Accounts and other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $5,844 and $6,302 as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively	177,398	135,931
Deferred rent	403,327	447,643
Acquired above market leases, net of accumulated amortization of $89,613 and $88,072 as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively	32,698	38,605
Deferred leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $118,376 and $99,327 as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively	236,000	229,300
Goodwill	330,664	0
Acquired in-place lease value, deferred leasing costs and intangibles, net of accumulated amortization of $621,132 and $579,637	1,391,659	456,962
Deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $66,116 and $61,634 as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively	35,204	30,821
Restricted cash	18,009	18,062
Assets held for sale	180,139	120,471
Other assets	54,904	40,188
Total assets	11,451,267	9,526,784
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Unsecured senior notes, net of discount	3,738,606	2,791,758
Mortgage loans, including premiums	303,183	378,818
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	608,343	605,923
Accrued dividends and distributions	126,925	115,019
Acquired below-market leases, net of accumulated amortization of $193,677 and $178,435 as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively	101,114	104,235
Security deposits and prepaid rents	138,347	108,478
Obligations associated with assets held for sale	5,795	5,764
Total liabilities	$ 6,914,765	$ 5,612,546
Commitments and contingencies
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Common Stock: $0.01 par value, 215,000,000 shares authorized, 146,384,247 and 135,626,255 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively	$ 1,456	$ 1,349
Additional paid-in capital	4,655,220	3,970,439
Accumulated dividends in excess of earnings	(1,350,089)	(1,096,607)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(96,590)	(45,046)
Total stockholders’ equity	4,500,132	3,878,256
Noncontrolling Interests:
Noncontrolling interests in operating partnership	29,612	29,191
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures	6,758	6,791
Total noncontrolling interests	36,370	35,982
Total equity	4,536,502	3,914,238
Total liabilities and equity	11,451,267	9,526,784
Series E Preferred Stock and Unit
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred Stock	277,172	277,172
Series F Preferred Stock and Unit
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred Stock	176,191	176,191
Series G Preferred Stock and Unit
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred Stock	241,468	241,468
Series H Preferred Stock and Unit
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred Stock	353,290	353,290
Series I Preferred Stock and Unit
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred Stock	242,014	0
Global revolving credit facility
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Line of credit	967,884	525,951
Unsecured term loan
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Line of credit	924,568	976,600
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Properties:
Land	689,573	671,602
Acquired ground leases	12,639	12,196
Buildings and improvements	9,676,427	8,823,814
Tenant improvements	536,734	475,000
Total investments in properties	10,915,373	9,982,612
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(2,251,268)	(1,874,054)
Net investments in properties	8,664,105	8,108,558
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	106,107	94,729
Net investments in real estate	8,770,212	8,203,287
Cash and cash equivalents	57,053	34,814
Accounts and other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $5,844 and $6,302 as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively	177,398	135,931
Deferred rent	403,327	447,643
Acquired above market leases, net of accumulated amortization of $89,613 and $88,072 as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively	32,698	38,605
Goodwill	330,664	0
Acquired in-place lease value, deferred leasing costs and intangibles, net of accumulated amortization of $621,132 and $579,637	1,391,659	456,962
Deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $66,116 and $61,634 as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively	35,204	30,821
Restricted cash	18,009	18,062
Assets held for sale	180,139	120,471
Other assets	54,904	40,188
Total assets	11,451,267	9,526,784
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Unsecured senior notes, net of discount	3,738,606	2,791,758
Mortgage loans, including premiums	303,183	378,818
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	609,708	605,923
Accrued dividends and distributions	126,925	115,019
Acquired below-market leases, net of accumulated amortization of $193,677 and $178,435 as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively	101,114	104,235
Security deposits and prepaid rents	138,347	108,478
Obligations associated with assets held for sale	5,795	5,764
Total liabilities	$ 6,916,130	$ 5,612,546
Commitments and contingencies
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Common Units: 135,626,255 and 128,455,350 units issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2014 and December 31, 2013, respectively	$ 3,305,222	$ 2,875,181
Limited partners, 1,421,314 and 1,463,814 common units, 1,032,775 and 1,170,610 profits interest units and 379,237 and 379,237 class C units outstanding as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively	33,986	32,578
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(100,964)	(48,433)
Total partners’ capital	4,528,379	3,907,447
Noncontrolling Interests:
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures	6,758	6,791
Total capital	4,535,137	3,914,238
Total liabilities and equity	11,451,267	9,526,784
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series E Preferred Stock and Unit
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred Stock	277,172	277,172
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series F Preferred Stock and Unit
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred Stock	176,191	176,191
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series G Preferred Stock and Unit
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred Stock	241,468	241,468
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series H Preferred Stock and Unit
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred Stock	353,290	353,290
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series I Preferred Stock and Unit
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred Stock	242,014	0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facility
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Line of credit	967,884	525,951
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Line of credit	$ 924,568	$ 976,600