Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (6.350% Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Oct. 08, 2015	Aug. 24, 2015	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Dec. 31, 2013
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Gross proceeds from the issuance of preferred stock				$ 250,000	$ 365,000	$ 250,000
Intercompany Loans, Interest Rate, Stated Percentage			4.50%
Series I Preferred Stock and Unit
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock, dividend rate			6.35%	6.35%	0.00%
Annual rate of dividend per share (in dollars per share)				$ 1.588
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25		$ 25.00	$ 25	$ 0
Net proceeds from sale of common stock (shares)			10,000,000
Gross proceeds from the issuance of preferred stock			$ 242,000
Intercompany Loans, Amount Borrowed			$ 242,700
Preferred stock dividends per share declared (in dollars per share)	$ 0.56003		$ 1.5875
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Intercompany Loans, Extinguishment of Debt, Amount		$ 244,100
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series I Preferred Stock and Unit
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred units, issued (in shares)	10,000,000	10,000,000		10,000,000	0
Preferred stock, dividend rate		6.35%		6.35%	0.00%
Annual rate of dividend per share (in dollars per share)		$ 1.5875
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25	$ 25.00		$ 25	$ 0
Preferred stock dividends per share declared (in dollars per share)				$ 0.56003