Debt of the Operating Partnership (Debt Schedule) (Details) $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
	Aug. 15, 2013 extension	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) extension	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015 $ / ¥	Dec. 31, 2015 $ / £	Dec. 31, 2015 $ / CAD	Dec. 31, 2015 $ / SGD	Dec. 31, 2015 $ / €	Dec. 31, 2015 $ / AUD	Dec. 31, 2015 $ / HKD	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2014 $ / ¥	Dec. 31, 2014 $ / £	Dec. 31, 2014 $ / CAD	Dec. 31, 2014 $ / SGD	Dec. 31, 2014 $ / €	Dec. 31, 2014 $ / AUD	Dec. 31, 2014 $ / HKD	Apr. 01, 2014 $ / £	Jan. 18, 2013 USD ($)	Sep. 24, 2012 USD ($)	Mar. 08, 2011 USD ($)	Feb. 03, 2010	Jan. 28, 2010 USD ($)	Jan. 20, 2010
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unsecured senior notes, net of discount		$ 3,738,606									$ 2,791,758
Mortgage loans, including premiums		303,183									378,818
Singapore dollar (SGD)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Derivative forward exchange rate (in dollars per share) | $ / SGD							0.70									0.75
3.625% notes due 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			3.625%
Global revolving credit facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal outstanding		967,884									525,951
Unsecured term loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal outstanding		924,568									976,600
Senior Notes | 5.875% notes due 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			5.875%
Senior Notes | 5.25% notes due 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			5.25%
Senior Notes | 3.625% notes due 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			3.625%
Senior Notes | 4.25% notes due 2025
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			4.25%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal outstanding, gross		5,951,716
Unamortized discounts		(17,914)
Unsecured senior notes, net of discount		3,738,606									2,791,758
Mortgage loans, including premiums		303,183									378,818
Unamortized premium		439
Long-term debt		5,934,241									4,673,127
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | 5.875% notes due 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)																									5.875%
Unamortized discounts																									$ (8,500)
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | 5.25% notes due 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)																							5.25%
Unamortized discounts																							$ (900)
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | 3.625% notes due 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)																						3.625%
Unamortized discounts																						$ (3,900)
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | 4.75% notes due 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)																				4.75%
Unamortized discounts		(3,000)
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | 4.75% notes due 2023 | British pound sterling (£)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Derivative forward exchange rate (in dollars per share) | $ / £																				1.66
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | 4.25% notes due 2025
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)																					4.25%
Unamortized discounts																					$ (4,800)
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal outstanding		967,884									525,951
Principal outstanding, gross		967,884
Unamortized discounts		0
Unamortized premium		0
Long-term debt		$ 967,884
Basis spread on variable rate		1.10%
Commitment fee percentage		0.20%
Number of extension options | extension	2	2
Revolving credit facility commitments extension (in months)	6 months	6 months
Weighted-average interest rate (as a percent)			1.53%									1.87%
Derivative forward exchange rate (in dollars per share)				0.01	1.47	0.72	0.70	1.09	0.73	0.13			0.01	1.56	0.86	0.75	1.21	0.82	0.13
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facility | Floating Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal outstanding		$ 967,884									514,951
Basis spread on variable rate		1.10%
Weighted-average interest rate (as a percent)			1.53%									1.84%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facility | Base Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Basis spread on variable rate		0.10%
Weighted-average interest rate (as a percent)			3.35%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facility | U.S. dollar ($) | Floating Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal outstanding		$ 274,000									90,000
Weighted-average interest rate (as a percent)			1.46%									1.27%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facility | U.S. dollar ($) | Base Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal outstanding		0									11,000
Weighted-average interest rate (as a percent)			0.00%									3.35%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facility | British pound sterling (£) | Floating Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal outstanding		95,784									132,716
Weighted-average interest rate (as a percent)			1.61%									1.61%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facility | Euro (€) | Floating Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal outstanding		280,565									58,071
Weighted-average interest rate (as a percent)			0.90%									1.13%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facility | Australian dollar (AUD) | Floating Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal outstanding		96,831									72,676
Weighted-average interest rate (as a percent)			3.16%									3.74%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facility | Hong Kong dollar (HKD) | Floating Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal outstanding		86,082									79,336
Weighted-average interest rate (as a percent)			1.33%									1.34%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facility | Japanese yen (JPY) | Floating Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal outstanding		14,304									13,201
Weighted-average interest rate (as a percent)			1.15%									1.17%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facility | Singapore dollar (SGD) | Floating Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal outstanding		49,132									6,565
Weighted-average interest rate (as a percent)			1.92%									1.64%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facility | Canadian dollar (CAD) | Floating Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal outstanding		71,186									62,386
Weighted-average interest rate (as a percent)			1.95%									2.39%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal outstanding		924,568									976,600
Principal outstanding, gross		924,568
Unamortized discounts		0
Unamortized premium		0
Long-term debt		$ 924,568
Basis spread on variable rate		1.20%
Number of extension options | extension		2
Revolving credit facility commitments extension (in months)		6 months
Weighted-average interest rate (as a percent)			1.76%									1.66%
Derivative forward exchange rate (in dollars per share)					1.47		0.70	1.09	0.73					1.56		0.75	1.21	0.82
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan | Interest Rate Swap
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted-average interest rate (as a percent)			1.94%									2.00%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan | U.S. dollar ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal outstanding		$ 410,905									410,905
Weighted-average interest rate (as a percent)			1.51%									1.36%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan | U.S. dollar ($) | Interest Rate Swap
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted-average interest rate (as a percent)			1.90%									1.92%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan | British pound sterling (£)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal outstanding		178,195									188,365
Weighted-average interest rate (as a percent)			1.78%									1.76%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan | Euro (€)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal outstanding		99,061									120,375
Weighted-average interest rate (as a percent)			1.00%									1.22%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan | Australian dollar (AUD)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal outstanding		75,337									84,529
Weighted-average interest rate (as a percent)			3.27%									3.98%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan | Singapore dollar (SGD)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal outstanding		161,070									172,426
Weighted-average interest rate (as a percent)			2.16%									1.45%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan | Singapore dollar (SGD) | Interest Rate Swap
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted-average interest rate (as a percent)			2.19%									2.01%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Prudential Shelf Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal outstanding, gross		75,000									142,000
Unamortized discounts		0
Unamortized premium		0
Long-term debt		75,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Prudential Shelf Facility | Series C
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			9.68%
Principal outstanding, gross		25,000									25,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Prudential Shelf Facility | Series D
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			4.57%
Principal outstanding, gross		0									50,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Prudential Shelf Facility | Series E
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			5.73%
Principal outstanding, gross		50,000									50,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Prudential Shelf Facility | Series F
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			4.50%
Principal outstanding, gross		0									17,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal outstanding, gross		3,681,520
Unamortized discounts		(17,914)									(15,632)
Unsecured senior notes, net of discount		3,663,606									2,649,758
Unamortized premium		0
Long-term debt		3,663,606
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes | 4.50% notes due 2015
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			4.50%
Principal outstanding, gross		0									375,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes | 5.875% notes due 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			5.875%
Principal outstanding, gross		500,000									500,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes | 3.40% notes due 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			3.40%
Principal outstanding, gross		500,000									0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes | 5.25% notes due 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			5.25%
Principal outstanding, gross		400,000									400,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes | 3.95% notes due 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			3.95%
Principal outstanding, gross		500,000									0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes | 3.625% notes due 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			3.625%
Principal outstanding, gross		300,000									300,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes | 4.75% notes due 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			4.75%
Principal outstanding, gross		442,080									467,310
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes | 4.25% notes due 2025
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			4.25%
Principal outstanding, gross		589,440									623,080
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes | 4.75% notes due 2025
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)			4.75%
Principal outstanding, gross		450,000									0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Mortgage loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal outstanding, gross		302,744
Unamortized discounts		0
Unamortized premium		439									582
Long-term debt		303,183									378,818
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Mortgage loans | 200 Paul Avenue
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate at period end (as a percent)			5.74%
Mortgage loans, including premiums		0									68,665
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Mortgage loans | 2045 & 2055 LaFayette Street
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate at period end (as a percent)			5.93%
Mortgage loans, including premiums		61,437									62,563
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Mortgage loans | 34551 Ardenwood Boulevard 1-4
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate at period end (as a percent)			5.95%
Mortgage loans, including premiums		50,477									51,339
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Mortgage loans | 1100 Space Park Drive
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate at period end (as a percent)			5.89%
Mortgage loans, including premiums		50,423									51,295
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Mortgage loans | 600 West Seventh Street
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate at period end (as a percent)			5.80%
Mortgage loans, including premiums		46,000									47,825
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Mortgage loans | 150 South First Street
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate at period end (as a percent)			6.30%
Mortgage loans, including premiums		48,484									49,316
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Mortgage loans | 2334 Lundy Place
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate at period end (as a percent)			5.96%
Mortgage loans, including premiums		36,714									37,340
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Mortgage loans | 8025 North Interstate 35
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate at period end (as a percent)			4.09%
Mortgage loans, including premiums		5,789									6,057
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Mortgage loans | 731 East Trade Street
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate at period end (as a percent)			8.22%
Mortgage loans, including premiums		3,420									3,836
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Mortgage loans | Manchester Technopark
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Derivative forward exchange rate (in dollars per share) | $ / £					1.47									1.56
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Principal outstanding, gross		$ 75,000									$ 142,000
Basis spread on variable rate		1.20%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured Senior Notes | Series D
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)																										4.57%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured Senior Notes | Series E
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)																										5.73%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured Senior Notes | Series F
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate (as a percent)																								4.50%