Condensed Consolidated Statement Of Capital - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Balance (units) as of December 31, 2015		146,384,247
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units		$ 3,826
Units issued under employee stock purchase plan		658
Preferred unit offering costs		(2)
Amortization of share-based compensation		12,664
Net income	$ 50,944	113,277
Other comprehensive income—foreign currency translation adjustments	(17,509)	(18,950)
Other comprehensive loss—fair value of interest rate swaps	(9,510)	(16,919)
Other comprehensive income—reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive loss to interest expense	$ 1,198	$ 2,256
Balance (units) as of June 30, 2016	146,859,067	146,859,067
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Balance as of December 31, 2015		$ 4,535,137
Common unit offering costs, net		3,107
Issuance of common units in connection with the exercise of stock options		1,255
Units issued under employee stock purchase plan		658
Preferred unit offering costs		(2)
Amortization of share-based compensation		12,664
Distributions		(306,577)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of contributions		(264)
Net income	$ 50,944	113,277
Other comprehensive income—foreign currency translation adjustments	(17,509)	(18,950)
Other comprehensive loss—fair value of interest rate swaps	(9,510)	(16,919)
Other comprehensive income—reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive loss to interest expense	1,198	2,256
Balance as of June 30, 2016	4,325,642	4,325,642
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Balance as of December 31, 2015		(100,964)
Other comprehensive income—foreign currency translation adjustments		(18,950)
Other comprehensive loss—fair value of interest rate swaps		(16,919)
Other comprehensive income—reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive loss to interest expense		2,256
Balance as of June 30, 2016	(134,577)	(134,577)
Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Joint Ventures | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Balance as of December 31, 2015		6,758
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of contributions		(264)
Net income		233
Balance as of June 30, 2016	6,727	6,727
General Partner | Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Balance as of December 31, 2015		$ 1,290,135
Balance (units) as of December 31, 2015		53,400,000
Preferred unit offering costs		$ (2)
Distributions		(44,848)
Net income		44,848
Balance as of June 30, 2016	$ 1,290,133	$ 1,290,133
Balance (units) as of June 30, 2016	53,400,000	53,400,000
General Partner | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Balance as of December 31, 2015		$ 3,305,222
Balance (units) as of December 31, 2015		146,384,247
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units		$ 3,826
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)		320,993
Issuance of unvested restricted common units, net of forfeitures (units)		112,556
Common unit offering costs, net		$ 3,107
Issuance of common units in connection with the exercise of stock options		$ 1,255
Issuance of common units in connection with the exercise of stock options (units)		30,945
Units issued under employee stock purchase plan		$ 658
Units issued under employee stock purchase plan (units)		10,326
Amortization of share-based compensation		$ 12,664
Reclassification of vested share-based awards		(7,577)
Distributions		(256,887)
Net income		67,076
Balance as of June 30, 2016	$ 3,129,344	$ 3,129,344
Balance (units) as of June 30, 2016	146,859,067	146,859,067
Limited Partners | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Balance as of December 31, 2015		$ 33,986
Balance (units) as of December 31, 2015		2,833,326
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units		$ (3,826)
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)		(320,993)
Issuance of common units, net of forfeitures (units)		24,823
Reclassification of vested share-based awards		$ 7,577
Distributions		(4,842)
Net income		1,120
Balance as of June 30, 2016	$ 34,015	$ 34,015
Balance (units) as of June 30, 2016	2,537,156	2,537,156