Derivative Instruments (Details) £ in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) instrument $ / SGD $ / £ $ / CAD	Jun. 30, 2016 USD ($) instrument $ / SGD $ / £ $ / CAD	Jun. 30, 2016 GBP (£) instrument $ / SGD $ / £ $ / CAD	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) $ / SGD $ / £
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	$ 1,153,368	$ 1,153,368		$ 469,484
Gain (loss) to be reclassified within twelve months		$ (6,900)
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan — 5-year
Derivative [Line Items]
Debt instrument, term		5 years
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan — 7-year
Derivative [Line Items]
Debt instrument, term		7 years
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan | Singapore dollar (SGD)
Derivative [Line Items]
Exchange rate | $ / SGD	0.74	0.74	0.74	0.70
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan | British pound sterling (£)
Derivative [Line Items]
Exchange rate | $ / £	1.33	1.33	1.33	1.47
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan | Canadian dollar (CAD)
Derivative [Line Items]
Exchange rate | $ / CAD	0.77	0.77	0.77
Interest Rate Swap, 0.932
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	$ 206,000	$ 206,000		$ 206,000
Strike Rate	0.932%	0.932%	0.932%
Interest Rate Swap, 0.670
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	$ 54,905	$ 54,905		54,905
Strike Rate	0.67%	0.67%	0.67%
Interest Rate Swap, 0.500
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	$ 0	$ 0		75,000
Strike Rate	0.50%	0.50%	0.50%
Interest Rate Swap 1.016
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	$ 75,000	$ 75,000		0
Strike Rate	1.016%	1.016%	1.016%
Interest Rate Swap, 1.164
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	$ 75,000	$ 75,000		0
Strike Rate	1.164%	1.164%	1.164%
Interest Rate Swap, 1.435
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	$ 300,000	$ 300,000		0
Strike Rate	1.435%	1.435%	1.435%
Interest Rate Swap, 0.925
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	$ 140,666	$ 140,666		133,579
Strike Rate	0.925%	0.925%	0.925%
Interest Rate Swap, 0.792
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	$ 225,588	$ 225,588		0
Strike Rate	0.792%	0.792%	0.792%
Interest Rate Swap, 0.779
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	$ 76,209	$ 76,209		0
Strike Rate	0.779%	0.779%	0.779%
Currency forward contracts
Derivative [Line Items]
Loss on derivatives not designated as hedging	$ 3,100	$ 3,100
Level 2
Derivative [Line Items]
Fair value of derivatives	(14,122)	(14,122)		1,143
Level 2 | Interest Rate Swap, 0.932
Derivative [Line Items]
Fair value of derivatives	(752)	(752)		(416)
Level 2 | Interest Rate Swap, 0.670
Derivative [Line Items]
Fair value of derivatives	(81)	(81)		69
Level 2 | Interest Rate Swap, 0.500
Derivative [Line Items]
Fair value of derivatives	0	0		(10)
Level 2 | Interest Rate Swap 1.016
Derivative [Line Items]
Fair value of derivatives	(743)	(743)		0
Level 2 | Interest Rate Swap, 1.164
Derivative [Line Items]
Fair value of derivatives	(1,235)	(1,235)		0
Level 2 | Interest Rate Swap, 1.435
Derivative [Line Items]
Fair value of derivatives	(8,386)	(8,386)		0
Level 2 | Interest Rate Swap, 0.925
Derivative [Line Items]
Fair value of derivatives	49	49		1,500
Level 2 | Interest Rate Swap, 0.792
Derivative [Line Items]
Fair value of derivatives	(3,277)	(3,277)		0
Level 2 | Interest Rate Swap, 0.779
Derivative [Line Items]
Fair value of derivatives	$ 303	$ 303		$ 0
Not designated as hedging instrument | Currency forward contracts
Derivative [Line Items]
Number of Instruments | instrument	4	4	4
Notional Amount Sold | Not designated as hedging instrument | Currency forward contracts
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	$ 476,781	$ 476,781	£ 357,299
Notional Amount Purchased | Not designated as hedging instrument | Currency forward contracts
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	518,469	518,469	£ 357,299
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities | Currency forward contracts
Derivative [Line Items]
Fair Value of derivatives not designated as hedging	$ 37,500	$ 37,500