Capital And Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Schedule of Dividends/Distributions) (Details) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) $ / shares
Series E Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	$ 10,062
Preferred stock dividend per share amount ($ per share/unit) | $ / shares	$ 1.750
Series F Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	$ 6,046
Preferred stock dividend per share amount ($ per share/unit) | $ / shares	$ 1.656
Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	$ 7,344
Preferred stock dividend per share amount ($ per share/unit) | $ / shares	$ 1.469
Series H Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	$ 13,460
Preferred stock dividend per share amount ($ per share/unit) | $ / shares	$ 1.844
Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	$ 7,938
Preferred stock dividend per share amount ($ per share/unit) | $ / shares	$ 1.588
February 17, 2016
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Date dividend/distribution declared	Feb. 17, 2016
Dividend/Distribution payment date	Mar. 31, 2016
February 17, 2016 | Series E Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	$ 5,031
February 17, 2016 | Series F Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,023
February 17, 2016 | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,672
February 17, 2016 | Series H Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	6,730
February 17, 2016 | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	$ 3,969
May 11, 2016
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Date dividend/distribution declared	May 11, 2016
Dividend/Distribution payment date	Jun. 30, 2016
May 11, 2016 | Series E Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	$ 5,031
May 11, 2016 | Series F Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,023
May 11, 2016 | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,672
May 11, 2016 | Series H Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	6,730
May 11, 2016 | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series E Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	10,062
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series F Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	6,046
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	7,344
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series H Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	13,460
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	7,938
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units	$ 263,194
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | February 17, 2016
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Date dividend/distribution declared	Feb. 17, 2016
Dividend/Distribution payment date	Mar. 31, 2016
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | February 17, 2016 | Series E Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	$ 5,031
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | February 17, 2016 | Series F Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,023
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | February 17, 2016 | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | February 17, 2016 | Series H Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	6,730
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | February 17, 2016 | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | February 17, 2016 | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units	$ 131,587
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | May 11, 2016
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Date dividend/distribution declared	May 11, 2016
Dividend/Distribution payment date	Jun. 30, 2016
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | May 11, 2016 | Series E Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	$ 5,031
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | May 11, 2016 | Series F Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,023
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | May 11, 2016 | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | May 11, 2016 | Series H Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	6,730
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | May 11, 2016 | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | May 11, 2016 | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units	$ 131,607
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Annual rate | Series E Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount ($ per share/unit) | $ / shares	$ 1.750
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Annual rate | Series F Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount ($ per share/unit) | $ / shares	1.656
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Annual rate | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount ($ per share/unit) | $ / shares	1.469
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Annual rate | Series H Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount ($ per share/unit) | $ / shares	1.844
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Annual rate | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount ($ per share/unit) | $ / shares	1.588
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Annual rate | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Common stock dividend per share amount ($ per share/unit) | $ / shares	$ 3.520