Derivative Instruments (Details) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
	Jan. 15, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016 USD ($) $ / SGD $ / £ $ / CAD	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) $ / SGD $ / £
Derivative [Line Items]
Gain (loss) to be reclassified within twelve months		$ (5,400)
Unsecured term loan — 5-year
Derivative [Line Items]
Debt instrument, term	5 years	5 years
Unsecured term loan — 5-year | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Derivative [Line Items]
Debt instrument, term	5 years
Unsecured term loan | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Singapore dollar (SGD)
Derivative [Line Items]
Exchange rate | $ / SGD		0.74	0.70
Unsecured term loan | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | British pound sterling (£)
Derivative [Line Items]
Exchange rate | $ / £		1.44	1.47
Unsecured term loan | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Canadian dollar (CAD)
Derivative [Line Items]
Exchange rate | $ / CAD		0.77
Unsecured term loan — 7-year | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Derivative [Line Items]
Debt instrument, term	7 years	7 years
Interest Rate Swap, 0.932
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount		$ 206,000	$ 206,000
Fair Value at Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		$ (777)	(416)
Derivative, Fixed Interest Rate		0.932%
Interest Rate Swap, 0.670
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount		$ 54,905	54,905
Fair Value at Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		$ (56)	69
Derivative, Fixed Interest Rate		0.67%
Interest Rate Swap, 0.500
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount		$ 75,000	75,000
Fair Value at Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		$ (1)	(10)
Derivative, Fixed Interest Rate		0.50%
Interest Rate Swap, 1.164
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount		$ 75,000	0
Fair Value at Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		$ (515)	0
Derivative, Fixed Interest Rate		1.164%
Interest Rate Swap, 1.435
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount		$ 300,000	0
Fair Value at Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		$ (3,728)	0
Derivative, Fixed Interest Rate		1.435%
Interest Rate Swap, 0.925
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount		$ 140,533	133,579
Fair Value at Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		$ 360	1,500
Derivative, Fixed Interest Rate		0.925%
Interest Rate Swap, 0.792
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount		$ 243,366	0
Fair Value at Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		$ (1,182)	0
Derivative, Fixed Interest Rate		0.792%
Interest Rate Swap, 0.779
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount		$ 75,747	0
Fair Value at Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		$ 390	0
Derivative, Fixed Interest Rate		0.779%
Currently Paying Contracts [Member]
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount		$ 1,170,551	469,484
Fair Value at Significant Other Observable Inputs (Level 2)		$ (5,509)	$ 1,143