Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (5.875% Series G Cumulative Convertible Preferred Units Narrative) (Details) - Series G Preferred Stock and Unit - $ / shares			12 Months Ended
	Jun. 28, 2013	Apr. 09, 2013	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock, dividend rate		5.875%	5.875%	5.875%
Annual rate of dividend per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.334550		$ 1.46875
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share/unit			25	$ 25
Preferred stock, redemption price per share (in dollars per share)			$ 25.00
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred units, issued (in shares)		10,000,000	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred stock, dividend rate		5.875%	5.875%	5.875%
Annual rate of dividend per share (in dollars per share)			$ 1.46875
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share/unit			25	$ 25
Preferred stock, dividends in arrears per share	$ 0.334550
Preferred stock, redemption price per share (in dollars per share)			$ 25.00