Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 5,844	$ 6,302
Accumulated amortization, acquired in-place leases, deferred leasing costs, and other intangible assets	621,132	579,637
Accumulated amortization, deferred financing costs	66,116	61,634
Accumulated amortization, below market leases	$ 193,677	$ 178,435
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	70,000,000	70,000,000
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	215,000,000	215,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	146,384,247	135,626,255
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	146,384,247	135,626,255
Acquired above market leases:
Accumulated amortization	$ 89,613	$ 88,072
Series E Preferred Stock and Unit
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 287,500	$ 287,500
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	7.00%	7.00%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	11,500,000	11,500,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	11,500,000	11,500,000
Series F Preferred Stock and Unit
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 182,500	$ 182,500
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	6.625%	6.625%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25.00	$ 25
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	7,300,000	7,300,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	7,300,000	7,300,000
Series G Preferred Stock and Unit
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 250,000	$ 250,000
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	5.875%	5.875%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	10,000,000	10,000,000
Series H Preferred Stock and Unit
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 365,000	$ 365,000
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	7.375%	7.375%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	14,600,000	14,600,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	14,600,000	14,600,000
Series I Preferred Stock and Unit
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 250,000	$ 0
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	6.35%	0.00%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25	$ 0
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	10,000,000	0
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	10,000,000	0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 5,844	$ 6,302
Deferred Costs, Leasing, Accumulated Amortization	621,132	579,637
Accumulated amortization, deferred financing costs	66,116	61,634
Accumulated amortization, below market leases	$ 193,677	$ 178,435
Limited Partners, common units	1,421,314	1,463,814
Limited Partners, profits interest units	1,032,775	1,170,610
Limited Partners, Class C units outstanding	379,237	379,237
Common Units, issued	146,384,247	135,626,255
Common Units, outstanding	146,384,247	135,626,255
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Acquired above market leases:
Accumulated amortization	$ 89,613	$ 88,072
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series E Preferred Stock and Unit
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 287,500	$ 287,500
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	7.00%	7.00%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred units, issued (in shares)	11,500,000	11,500,000
Preferred Units, Outstanding	11,500,000	11,500,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series F Preferred Stock and Unit
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 182,500	$ 182,500
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	6.625%	6.625%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred units, issued (in shares)	7,300,000	7,300,000
Preferred Units, Outstanding	7,300,000	7,300,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series G Preferred Stock and Unit
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 250,000	$ 250,000
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	5.875%	5.875%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred units, issued (in shares)	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred Units, Outstanding	10,000,000	10,000,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series H Preferred Stock and Unit
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 365,000	$ 365,000
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	7.375%	7.375%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred units, issued (in shares)	14,600,000	14,600,000
Preferred Units, Outstanding	14,600,000	14,600,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series I Preferred Stock and Unit
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 250,000	$ 0
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	6.35%	0.00%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25	$ 0
Preferred units, issued (in shares)	10,000,000	0
Preferred Units, Outstanding	10,000,000	0