Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Properties:
Land	$ 737,562	$ 689,573
Acquired ground leases	11,916	12,639
Buildings and improvements	10,222,116	9,676,427
Tenant improvements	540,271	536,734
Total investments in properties	11,511,865	10,915,373
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(2,565,368)	(2,251,268)
Net investments in properties	8,946,497	8,664,105
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	105,819	106,107
Net investments in real estate	9,052,316	8,770,212
Cash and cash equivalents	36,445	57,053
Accounts and other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $10,052 and $5,844 as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	208,097	177,398
Deferred rent	412,977	403,327
Acquired above-market leases, net	24,554	32,698
Goodwill	780,099	330,664
Acquired in-place lease value, deferred leasing costs and intangibles, net	1,526,563	1,391,659
Restricted cash	11,685	18,009
Assets held for sale	55,915	180,139
Other assets	190,384	54,904
Total assets	12,299,035	11,416,063
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Unsecured senior notes, net of discount	4,238,435	3,712,569
Mortgage loans, including premiums	111,750	302,930
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	823,905	608,343
Accrued dividends and distributions	0	126,925
Acquired below-market leases, net	86,888	101,114
Security deposits and prepaid rents	163,787	138,347
Obligations associated with assets held for sale	2,820	5,795
Total liabilities	7,102,387	6,879,561
Commitments and contingencies
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 110,000,000 and 70,000,000 shares authorized as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively:
Common Stock: $0.01 par value, 265,000,000 and 215,000,000 shares authorized as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively, 158,926,811 and 146,384,247 shares issued and outstanding as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	1,581	1,456
Additional paid-in capital	5,759,338	4,655,220
Accumulated dividends in excess of earnings	(1,483,220)	(1,350,089)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(131,939)	(96,590)
Total stockholders’ equity	5,158,721	4,500,132
Noncontrolling Interests:
Noncontrolling interests in operating partnership	31,088	29,612
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures	6,839	6,758
Total noncontrolling interests	37,927	36,370
Total equity	5,196,648	4,536,502
Total liabilities and equity/capital	12,299,035	11,416,063
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Properties:
Land	737,562	689,573
Acquired ground leases	11,916	12,639
Buildings and improvements	10,222,116	9,676,427
Tenant improvements	540,271	536,734
Total investments in properties	11,511,865	10,915,373
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(2,565,368)	(2,251,268)
Net investments in properties	8,946,497	8,664,105
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	105,819	106,107
Net investments in real estate	9,052,316	8,770,212
Cash and cash equivalents	36,445	57,053
Accounts and other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $10,052 and $5,844 as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	208,097	177,398
Deferred rent	412,977	403,327
Acquired above-market leases, net	24,554	32,698
Goodwill	780,099	330,664
Acquired in-place lease value, deferred leasing costs and intangibles, net	1,526,563	1,391,659
Restricted cash	11,685	18,009
Assets held for sale	55,915	180,139
Other assets	190,384	54,904
Total assets	12,299,035	11,416,063
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Unsecured senior notes, net of discount	4,238,435	3,712,569
Mortgage loans, including premiums	111,750	302,930
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	823,905	609,708
Accrued dividends and distributions	0	126,925
Acquired below-market leases, net	86,888	101,114
Security deposits and prepaid rents	163,787	138,347
Obligations associated with assets held for sale	2,820	5,795
Total liabilities	7,102,387	6,880,926
Commitments and contingencies
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 110,000,000 and 70,000,000 shares authorized as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively:
Common Units: 146,859,067 and 146,384,247 common units issued and outstanding as of June 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	4,277,699	3,305,222
Limited partners, 1,218,814 and 1,421,314 common units, 963,593 and 1,170,610 profits interest units and 338,584 and 379,237 class C units outstanding as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	36,045	33,986
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(136,896)	(100,964)
Total partners’ capital	5,189,809	4,528,379
Noncontrolling Interests:
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures	6,839	6,758
Total capital	5,196,648	4,535,137
Total liabilities and equity/capital	12,299,035	11,416,063
Series E Preferred Units
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 110,000,000 and 70,000,000 shares authorized as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively:
Preferred Stock Shares/Units	0	277,172
Series E Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 110,000,000 and 70,000,000 shares authorized as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively:
Preferred Stock Shares/Units	0	277,172
Series F Preferred Units
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 110,000,000 and 70,000,000 shares authorized as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively:
Preferred Stock Shares/Units	176,191	176,191
Series F Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 110,000,000 and 70,000,000 shares authorized as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively:
Preferred Stock Shares/Units	176,191	176,191
Series G Preferred Units
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 110,000,000 and 70,000,000 shares authorized as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively:
Preferred Stock Shares/Units	241,468	241,468
Series G Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 110,000,000 and 70,000,000 shares authorized as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively:
Preferred Stock Shares/Units	241,468	241,468
Series H Preferred Units
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 110,000,000 and 70,000,000 shares authorized as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively:
Preferred Stock Shares/Units	353,290	353,290
Series H Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 110,000,000 and 70,000,000 shares authorized as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively:
Preferred Stock Shares/Units	353,290	353,290
Series I Preferred Units
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 110,000,000 and 70,000,000 shares authorized as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively:
Preferred Stock Shares/Units	242,012	242,014
Series I Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 110,000,000 and 70,000,000 shares authorized as of September 30, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively:
Preferred Stock Shares/Units	242,012	242,014
Global revolving credit facility
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Line of credit	153,189	960,271
Global revolving credit facility | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Line of credit	153,189	960,271
Unsecured term loan
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Line of credit	1,521,613	923,267
Unsecured term loan | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Line of credit	$ 1,521,613	$ 923,267