Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($)	6 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Accounts and other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 5,872,000	$ 5,844,000
Preferred Stock, par value ($ per share/unit)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred Stock, authorized (shares)	110,000,000	70,000,000
Common Stock, par value ($ per share/unit)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common Stock, authorized (shares)	265,000,000	215,000,000
Common Stock, shares, issued (shares)	146,859,067	146,384,247
Common Stock, shares, outstanding (shares)	146,859,067	146,384,247
Series E Preferred Units
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	7.00%	7.00%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 287,500,000	$ 287,500,000
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference ($ per share/unit)	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock, issued (shares)	11,500,000	11,500,000
Preferred Stock, outstanding (shares)	11,500,000	11,500,000
Series F Preferred Units
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	6.625%	6.625%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 182,500,000	$ 182,500,000
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference ($ per share/unit)	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock, issued (shares)	7,300,000	7,300,000
Preferred Stock, outstanding (shares)	7,300,000	7,300,000
Series G Preferred Units
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	5.875%	5.875%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 250,000,000	$ 250,000,000
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference ($ per share/unit)	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock, issued (shares)	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred Stock, outstanding (shares)	10,000,000	10,000,000
Series H Preferred Units
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	7.375%	7.375%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 365,000,000	$ 365,000,000
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference ($ per share/unit)	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock, issued (shares)	14,600,000	14,600,000
Preferred Stock, outstanding (shares)	14,600,000	14,600,000
Series I Preferred Units
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	6.35%	6.35%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 250,000,000	$ 250,000,000
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference ($ per share/unit)	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock, issued (shares)	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred Stock, outstanding (shares)	10,000,000	10,000,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Accounts and other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 5,872,000	$ 5,844,000
Common Units, issued (units)	146,859,067	146,384,247
Common Units, outstanding (units)	146,859,067	146,384,247
Limited Partners, common units (units)	1,218,814	1,421,314
Limited Partners, profits interest units (units)	971,311	1,170,610
Limited Partners, Class C units outstanding (units)	347,031	379,237
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series E Preferred Units
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	7.00%	7.00%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 287,500,000	$ 287,500,000
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference ($ per share/unit)	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Preferred Units, issued (units)	11,500,000	11,500,000
Preferred Units, outstanding (units)	11,500,000	11,500,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series F Preferred Units
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	6.625%	6.625%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 182,500,000	$ 182,500,000
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference ($ per share/unit)	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Preferred Units, issued (units)	7,300,000	7,300,000
Preferred Units, outstanding (units)	7,300,000	7,300,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series G Preferred Units
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	5.875%	5.875%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 250,000,000	$ 250,000,000
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference ($ per share/unit)	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Preferred Units, issued (units)	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred Units, outstanding (units)	10,000,000	10,000,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series H Preferred Units
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	7.375%	7.375%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 365,000,000	$ 365,000,000
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference ($ per share/unit)	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Preferred Units, issued (units)	14,600,000	14,600,000
Preferred Units, outstanding (units)	14,600,000	14,600,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series I Preferred Units
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	6.35%	6.35%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 250,000,000	$ 250,000,000
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference ($ per share/unit)	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Preferred Units, issued (units)	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred Units, outstanding (units)	10,000,000	10,000,000