Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2015
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 113,277	$ 260,322
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on sale of properties	(1,097)	(94,489)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	(8,210)	(8,001)
Change in fair value of accrued contingent consideration	0	(42,682)
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	8,568	6,898
Write-off of net assets due to early lease terminations	(1)	(59)
Depreciation and amortization of buildings and improvements, tenant improvements and acquired ground leases	254,647	226,767
Amortization of share-based compensation	9,184	7,483
Allowance for (recovery of) doubtful accounts	28	(39)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	4,903	4,285
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	964	148
Amortization of debt discount/premium	1,277	915
Amortization of acquired in-place lease value and deferred leasing costs	89,963	33,830
Amortization of acquired above-market leases and acquired below-market leases, net	(4,262)	(4,683)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Restricted cash	(1,004)	566
Accounts and other receivables	(1,118)	4,826
Deferred rent	(13,011)	(27,868)
Deferred leasing costs	(12,269)	(4,675)
Other assets	(53,879)	(15,429)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	10,120	4,344
Security deposits and prepaid rents	(2,451)	2,692
Net cash provided by operating activities	395,629	355,151
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of real estate	(1,673)	(48,424)
Proceeds from sale of properties, net	35,769	185,565
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(11)	(7,547)
Receipt of value added tax refund	4,373	13,422
Refundable value added tax paid	(6,742)	(2,771)
Change in restricted cash	(70)	1,484
Improvements to investments in real estate	(332,406)	(380,148)
Improvement advances to tenants	(13,366)	(17,881)
Collection of advances from tenants for improvements	15,014	14,441
Net cash used in investing activities	(299,112)	(241,859)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	836,202	1,291,832
Repayments on revolving credit facility	(1,706,539)	(1,032,798)
Borrowings on unsecured term loan	766,201	0
Repayments on unsecured term loan	(150,873)	0
Borrowings on unsecured senior notes	675,591	496,190
Principal payments on unsecured senior notes	0	(374,927)
Repayments on unsecured notes	(25,000)	(67,000)
Principal payments on mortgage loans	(54,282)	(4,440)
Earnout payments related to acquisition	(12,129)	(12,985)
Change in restricted cash	788	113
Payment of loan fees and costs	(18,965)	(3,741)
Capital distributions paid to noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net	(264)	(245)
Common and preferred stock offering costs paid, net	3,105	(273)
Proceeds from equity plans	1,913	493
Payment of dividends/distributions to preferred stockholders/unitholders	(44,848)	(36,911)
Payment of dividends/distributions to common unit/stockholders and distributions to noncontrolling interests in operating partnership	(390,019)	(350,769)
Net cash used in financing activities	(119,119)	(95,461)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(22,602)	17,831
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(1,210)	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	57,053	41,321
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	33,241	59,152
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	110,274	101,036
Cash paid for income taxes	2,253	1,785
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in net assets related to foreign currency translation adjustments	(18,950)	(22,375)
Decrease in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	(16,919)	(1,840)
Noncontrolling interests in operating partnership redeemed for or converted to shares of common stock	3,826	1,312
Accrual for additions to investments in real estate and tenant improvement advances included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	108,456	132,625
Allocation of purchase price of real estate/investment in partnership to:
Investments in real estate	1,673	48,424
Cash paid for acquisition of real estate	1,673	48,424
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	113,277	260,322
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on sale of properties	(1,097)	(94,489)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	(8,210)	(8,001)
Change in fair value of accrued contingent consideration	0	(42,682)
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	8,568	6,898
Write-off of net assets due to early lease terminations	(1)	(59)
Depreciation and amortization of buildings and improvements, tenant improvements and acquired ground leases	254,647	226,767
Amortization of share-based compensation	9,184	7,483
Allowance for (recovery of) doubtful accounts	28	(39)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	4,903	4,285
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	964	148
Amortization of debt discount/premium	1,277	915
Amortization of acquired in-place lease value and deferred leasing costs	89,963	33,830
Amortization of acquired above-market leases and acquired below-market leases, net	(4,262)	(4,683)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Restricted cash	(1,004)	566
Accounts and other receivables	(1,118)	4,826
Deferred rent	(13,011)	(27,868)
Deferred leasing costs	(12,269)	(4,675)
Other assets	(53,879)	(15,429)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	10,120	4,344
Security deposits and prepaid rents	(2,451)	2,692
Net cash provided by operating activities	395,629	355,151
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of real estate	(1,673)	(48,424)
Proceeds from sale of properties, net	35,769	185,565
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(11)	(7,547)
Receipt of value added tax refund	4,373	13,422
Refundable value added tax paid	(6,742)	(2,771)
Change in restricted cash	(70)	1,484
Improvements to investments in real estate	(332,406)	(380,148)
Improvement advances to tenants	(13,366)	(17,881)
Collection of advances from tenants for improvements	15,014	14,441
Net cash used in investing activities	(299,112)	(241,859)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	836,202	1,291,832
Repayments on revolving credit facility	(1,706,539)	(1,032,798)
Borrowings on unsecured term loan	766,201	0
Repayments on unsecured term loan	(150,873)	0
Borrowings on unsecured senior notes	675,591	496,190
Principal payments on unsecured senior notes	0	(374,927)
Repayments on unsecured notes	(25,000)	(67,000)
Principal payments on mortgage loans	(54,282)	(4,440)
Earnout payments related to acquisition	(12,129)	(12,985)
Change in restricted cash	788	113
Payment of loan fees and costs	(18,965)	(3,741)
Capital distributions paid to noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net	(264)	(245)
General partner contributions, net	5,018	220
Payment of dividends/distributions to preferred stockholders/unitholders	(44,848)	(36,911)
Payment of dividends/distributions to common unit/stockholders and distributions to noncontrolling interests in operating partnership	(390,019)	(350,769)
Net cash used in financing activities	(119,119)	(95,461)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(22,602)	17,831
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(1,210)	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	57,053	41,321
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	33,241	59,152
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	110,274	101,036
Cash paid for income taxes	2,253	1,785
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in net assets related to foreign currency translation adjustments	(18,950)	(22,375)
Decrease in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	(16,919)	(1,840)
Accrual for additions to investments in real estate and tenant improvement advances included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	108,456	134,625
Allocation of purchase price of real estate/investment in partnership to:
Investments in real estate	1,673	48,424
Cash paid for acquisition of real estate	$ 1,673	$ 48,424