Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Properties:
Land	$ 694,115	$ 689,573
Acquired ground leases	12,650	12,639
Buildings and improvements	9,855,940	9,676,427
Tenant improvements	540,207	536,734
Total investments in properties	11,102,912	10,915,373
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(2,380,400)	(2,251,268)
Net investments in properties	8,722,512	8,664,105
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	106,008	106,107
Net investments in real estate	8,828,520	8,770,212
Cash and cash equivalents	31,134	57,053
Accounts and other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $3,913 and $5,844 as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	180,456	177,398
Deferred rent	412,579	403,327
Acquired above-market leases, net	30,107	32,698
Goodwill	330,664	330,664
Acquired in-place lease value, deferred leasing costs and intangibles, net	1,368,340	1,391,659
Restricted cash	19,599	18,009
Assets held for sale	145,087	180,139
Other assets	75,489	54,904
Total assets	11,421,975	11,416,063
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Unsecured senior notes, net of discount	3,662,753	3,712,569
Mortgage loans, including premiums	249,923	302,930
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	570,652	608,343
Accrued dividends and distributions	0	126,925
Acquired below-market leases, net	96,475	101,114
Security deposits and prepaid rents	147,934	138,347
Obligations associated with assets held for sale	4,974	5,795
Total liabilities	$ 6,976,765	$ 6,879,561
Commitments and contingencies
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Common Stock: $0.01 par value, 215,000,000 shares authorized, 146,797,648 and 146,384,247 shares issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	$ 1,459	$ 1,456
Additional paid-in capital	4,659,484	4,655,220
Accumulated dividends in excess of earnings	(1,440,028)	(1,350,089)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(104,252)	(96,590)
Total stockholders’ equity	4,406,798	4,500,132
Noncontrolling Interests:
Noncontrolling interests in operating partnership	31,648	29,612
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures	6,764	6,758
Total noncontrolling interests	38,412	36,370
Total equity	4,445,210	4,536,502
Total liabilities and equity/capital	11,421,975	11,416,063
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Properties:
Land	694,115	689,573
Acquired ground leases	12,650	12,639
Buildings and improvements	9,855,940	9,676,427
Tenant improvements	540,207	536,734
Total investments in properties	11,102,912	10,915,373
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(2,380,400)	(2,251,268)
Net investments in properties	8,722,512	8,664,105
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	106,008	106,107
Net investments in real estate	8,828,520	8,770,212
Cash and cash equivalents	31,134	57,053
Accounts and other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $3,913 and $5,844 as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	180,456	177,398
Deferred rent	412,579	403,327
Acquired above-market leases, net	30,107	32,698
Goodwill	330,664	330,664
Acquired in-place lease value, deferred leasing costs and intangibles, net	1,368,340	1,391,659
Restricted cash	19,599	18,009
Assets held for sale	145,087	180,139
Other assets	75,489	54,904
Total assets	11,421,975	11,416,063
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Unsecured senior notes, net of discount	3,662,753	3,712,569
Mortgage loans, including premiums	249,923	302,930
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	572,017	609,708
Accrued dividends and distributions	0	126,925
Acquired below-market leases, net	96,475	101,114
Security deposits and prepaid rents	147,934	138,347
Obligations associated with assets held for sale	4,974	5,795
Total liabilities	$ 6,978,130	$ 6,880,926
Commitments and contingencies
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
146,797,648 and 146,384,247 units issued and outstanding as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	$ 3,219,550	$ 3,305,222
Limited partners, 1,221,314 and 1,421,314 common units, 995,999 and 1,170,610 profits interest units and 379,237 and 379,237 class C units outstanding as of March 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	36,152	33,986
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(108,756)	(100,964)
Total partners’ capital	4,437,081	4,528,379
Noncontrolling Interests:
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures	6,764	6,758
Total capital	4,443,845	4,535,137
Total liabilities and equity/capital	11,421,975	11,416,063
Series E Preferred Units
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred Stock	277,172	277,172
Series E Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred Stock	277,172	277,172
Series F Preferred Units
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred Stock	176,191	176,191
Series F Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred Stock	176,191	176,191
Series G Preferred Units
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred Stock	241,468	241,468
Series G Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred Stock	241,468	241,468
Series H Preferred Units
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred Stock	353,290	353,290
Series H Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred Stock	353,290	353,290
Series I Preferred Stock
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred Stock	242,014	242,014
Series I Preferred Stock | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 70,000,000 shares authorized:
Preferred Stock	242,014	242,014
Global revolving credit facility
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Line of credit	677,869	960,271
Global revolving credit facility | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Line of credit	677,869	960,271
Unsecured term loan
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Line of credit		923,267
Unsecured term loan | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Line of credit	$ 1,566,185	$ 923,267