Consolidated Statements of Capital - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Mar. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance (units)		135,626,255			135,626,255
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units					$ 1,843	$ 1,655	$ 631
Common unit offering costs					799	(625)
Issuance of common stock in exchange for cash					675,577	266,400
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred units							(504)
Conversion of preferred units						353,290
Amortization of unearned compensation on share-based awards					14,375	23,737	15,621
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures							430
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of contributions					(493)	(643)
Net income	$ (16,573)	$ 122,325	$ (34,795)	$ 46,717	301,591	203,415	320,449
Other comprehensive income— foreign currency translation adjustments					(51,745)	(52,373)	14,636
Other comprehensive income— fair value of interest rate swaps					(3,407)	(7,936)	2,473
Other comprehensive income—reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive loss to interest expense					$ 2,621	$ 3,419	6,258
Balance (units)	146,384,247		135,626,255		146,384,247	135,626,255
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance		3,914,238		3,646,512	$ 3,914,238	$ 3,646,512	3,498,384
Common unit offering costs					799	(625)	(504)
Issuance of common units in connection with the exercise of stock options					896	711	230
Issuance of common stock in exchange for cash					675,577	266,400
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred units					242,014	353,290	241,468
Conversion of preferred units							0
Amortization of unearned compensation on share-based awards					14,375	23,737	15,621
Distributions					(559,964)	(521,669)	(452,933)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures							430
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of contributions					(493)	(643)
Net income	$ (16,785)	122,325	$ (34,795)	46,717	300,226	203,415	320,449
Other comprehensive income— foreign currency translation adjustments					(51,745)	(52,373)	14,636
Other comprehensive income— fair value of interest rate swaps					(3,407)	(7,936)	2,473
Other comprehensive income—reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive loss to interest expense					2,621	3,419	6,258
Balance	4,535,137		3,914,238		4,535,137	3,914,238	3,646,512
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), net | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance		(48,433)		8,457	(48,433)	8,457	(14,910)
Other comprehensive income— foreign currency translation adjustments					(51,745)	(52,373)	14,636
Other comprehensive income— fair value of interest rate swaps					(3,407)	(7,936)	2,473
Other comprehensive income—reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive loss to interest expense					2,621	3,419	6,258
Balance	(100,964)		(48,433)		(100,964)	(48,433)	8,457
Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Joint Ventures | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance		6,791		6,969	6,791	6,969	5,944
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures							430
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of contributions					(493)	(643)
Net income					460	465	595
Balance	$ 6,758		$ 6,791		6,758	6,791	6,969
General Partner | Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance		$ 1,048,121		$ 694,831	$ 1,048,121	$ 694,831	$ 572,711
Balance (units)		43,400,000		28,800,000	43,400,000	28,800,000	23,736,505
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred units					$ 242,014	$ 353,290	$ 241,468
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred units (units)					10,000,000	14,600,000	10,000,000
Conversion of preferred units							$ (119,348)
Conversion of preferred units (units)							(4,936,505)
Distributions					$ (79,423)	$ (67,465)	$ (42,905)
Net income					$ 79,423	$ 67,465	$ 42,905
Balance (units)	53,400,000		43,400,000		53,400,000	43,400,000	28,800,000
Balance	$ 1,290,135		$ 1,048,121		$ 1,290,135	$ 1,048,121	$ 694,831
General Partner | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance		$ 2,875,181		$ 2,904,994	$ 2,875,181	$ 2,904,994	$ 2,907,785
Balance (units)		135,626,255		128,455,350	135,626,255	128,455,350	125,140,783
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units					$ 1,843	$ 1,655	$ 631
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)					156,008	134,073	57,138
Issuance of restricted common units, net of forfeitures (units)					72,673	124,163	112,245
Common unit offering costs					$ 799	$ (625)	$ (504)
Issuance of common units in connection with the exercise of stock options					$ 896	$ 711	$ 230
Issuance of common units in connection with the exercise of stock options (units)					29,311	42,757	5,569
Issuance of common stock in exchange for cash					$ 675,577	$ 266,400
Issuance of common stock in exchange for cash and debentures (shares/units)					10,500,000	6,869,912
Conversion of preferred units							$ 119,348
Conversion of preferred units (units)							3,139,615
Amortization of unearned compensation on share-based awards					$ 14,375	$ 23,737	$ 15,621
Reclassification of vested share based awards					(8,602)	(10,306)	(8,999)
Distributions					(470,748)	(444,103)	(400,701)
Net income					$ 215,901	$ 132,718	$ 271,583
Balance (units)	146,384,247		135,626,255		146,384,247	135,626,255	128,455,350
Balance	$ 3,305,222		$ 2,875,181		$ 3,305,222	$ 2,875,181	$ 2,904,994
Limited Partners | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance		$ 32,578		$ 31,261	$ 32,578	$ 31,261	$ 26,854
Balance (units)		3,013,661		2,967,021	3,013,661	2,967,021	2,851,400
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units					$ (1,843)	$ (1,655)	$ (631)
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)					(156,008)	(134,073)	(57,138)
Issuance of common units, net of forfeitures (units)					(24,327)	180,713	172,759
Reclassification of vested share based awards					$ 8,602	$ 10,306	$ 8,999
Distributions					(9,793)	(10,101)	(9,327)
Net income					$ 4,442	$ 2,767	$ 5,366
Balance (units)	2,833,326		3,013,661		2,833,326	3,013,661	2,967,021
Balance	$ 33,986		$ 32,578		$ 33,986	$ 32,578	$ 31,261