Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 62,333	$ 122,325
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on sale of properties	(1,097)	(17,820)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	(4,078)	(4,618)
Change in fair value of accrued contingent consideration	0	(43,034)
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	4,115	3,436
Write-off of net assets due to early lease terminations	(1)	(30)
Depreciation and amortization of buildings and improvements, tenant improvements and acquired ground leases	127,175	111,696
Amortization of share-based compensation	4,304	2,965
(Recovery of) allowance for doubtful accounts	(1,931)	137
Amortization of deferred financing costs	2,260	2,216
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	964	0
Amortization of debt discount/premium	611	484
Amortization of acquired in-place lease value and deferred leasing costs	41,841	17,379
Amortization of acquired above-market leases and acquired below-market leases, net	(2,266)	(2,324)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Restricted cash	(1,249)	(399)
Accounts and other receivables	3,221	18,731
Deferred rent	(7,456)	(13,369)
Deferred leasing costs	(4,147)	(4,494)
Other assets	(15,424)	(14,849)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(39,321)	(42,482)
Security deposits and prepaid rents	9,507	2,972
Net cash provided by operating activities	179,361	138,922
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of real estate	(1,329)	0
Proceeds from sale of properties, net	35,769	43,274
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(11)	(7,547)
Receipt of value added tax refund	951	14,115
Refundable value added tax paid	(4,319)	(12,403)
Change in restricted cash	(42)	(75)
Improvements to investments in real estate	(183,890)	(183,817)
Improvement advances to tenants	(9,617)	(8,040)
Collection of advances from tenants for improvements	8,318	5,423
Net cash used in investing activities	(154,170)	(149,070)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	692,593	540,142
Repayments on revolving credit facility	(975,287)	(213,468)
Borrowings on unsecured term loan	766,201	0
Repayments of Unsecured Debt	(150,873)	0
Principal payments on mortgage loans	(53,041)	(2,255)
Earnout payments related to acquisition	(12,129)	0
Change in restricted cash	(295)	51
Payment of loan fees and costs	(14,207)	(68)
Capital distributions paid to noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net	(115)	(99)
Common and preferred stock offering costs paid, net	137	(148)
Proceeds from equity plans	1,805	334
Payment of dividends/distributions to preferred stockholders/unitholders	(22,424)	(18,455)
Payment of dividends/distributions to common unit/stockholders and distributions to noncontrolling interests in operating partnership	(258,475)	(232,878)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(51,110)	6,156
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(25,919)	(3,992)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	57,053	41,321
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	31,134	37,329
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	61,678	63,289
Cash paid for income taxes	1,541	1,185
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in net assets related to foreign currency translation adjustments	(1,441)	(45,843)
Decrease in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	(7,409)	(2,417)
Noncontrolling interests in operating partnership redeemed for or converted to shares of common stock	2,930	857
Accrual for additions to investments in real estate and tenant improvement advances included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	108,251	173,246
Allocation Of Purchase Price Of Properties To Abstract
Investments in real estate	1,329	0
Cash paid for acquisition of real estate	1,329	0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	62,333	122,325
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on sale of properties	(1,097)	(17,820)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	(4,078)	(4,618)
Change in fair value of accrued contingent consideration	0	(43,034)
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	4,115	3,436
Write-off of net assets due to early lease terminations	(1)	(30)
Depreciation and amortization of buildings and improvements, tenant improvements and acquired ground leases	127,175	111,696
Amortization of share-based compensation	4,304	2,965
(Recovery of) allowance for doubtful accounts	(1,931)	137
Amortization of deferred financing costs	2,260	2,216
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	964	0
Amortization of debt discount/premium	611	484
Amortization of acquired in-place lease value and deferred leasing costs	41,841	17,379
Amortization of acquired above-market leases and acquired below-market leases, net	(2,266)	(2,324)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Restricted cash	(1,249)	(399)
Accounts and other receivables	3,221	18,731
Deferred rent	(7,456)	(13,369)
Deferred leasing costs	(4,147)	(4,494)
Other assets	(15,424)	(14,849)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(39,321)	(42,482)
Security deposits and prepaid rents	9,507	2,972
Net cash provided by operating activities	179,361	138,922
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of real estate	(1,329)	0
Proceeds from sale of properties, net	35,769	43,274
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(11)	(7,547)
Receipt of value added tax refund	951	14,115
Refundable value added tax paid	(4,319)	(12,403)
Change in restricted cash	(42)	(75)
Improvements to investments in real estate	(183,890)	(183,817)
Improvement advances to tenants	(9,617)	(8,040)
Collection of advances from tenants for improvements	8,318	5,423
Net cash used in investing activities	(154,170)	(149,070)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	692,593	540,142
Repayments on revolving credit facility	(975,287)	(213,468)
Borrowings on unsecured term loan	766,201	0
Repayments of Unsecured Debt	(150,873)	0
Principal payments on mortgage loans	(53,041)	(2,255)
Earnout payments related to acquisition	(12,129)	0
Change in restricted cash	(295)	51
Payment of loan fees and costs	(14,207)	(68)
Capital distributions paid to noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net	(115)	(99)
General partner contributions, net	1,942	186
Payment of dividends/distributions to preferred stockholders/unitholders	(22,424)	(18,455)
Payment of dividends/distributions to common unit/stockholders and distributions to noncontrolling interests in operating partnership	(258,475)	(232,878)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(51,110)	6,156
Net decrease in cash and cash equivalents	(25,919)	(3,992)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	57,053	41,321
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	31,134	37,329
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	61,678	63,289
Cash paid for income taxes	1,541	1,185
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in net assets related to foreign currency translation adjustments	(1,441)	(45,483)
Decrease in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	(7,409)	(2,417)
Accrual for additions to investments in real estate and tenant improvement advances included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	108,251	173,246
Allocation Of Purchase Price Of Properties To Abstract
Investments in real estate	1,329	0
Cash paid for acquisition of real estate	1,329	0
3.950% notes due 2022
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of Unsecured Debt	(25,000)	(67,000)
3.950% notes due 2022 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments of Unsecured Debt	$ (25,000)	$ (67,000)