Debt of the Operating Partnership (Summary of Outstanding Indebtedness) (Details) $ in Thousands		9 Months Ended
	Jan. 15, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) extension $ / SGD $ / € $ / ¥ $ / £ $ / CAD $ / AUD $ / HKD	Apr. 15, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) $ / SGD $ / € $ / ¥ $ / £ $ / CAD $ / AUD $ / HKD
Unsecured term loan — 5-year
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, term	5 years
Global revolving credit facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Deferred financing costs		$ (11,600)		$ (7,600)
Unsecured term loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Deferred financing costs		(6,500)		(1,300)
Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Deferred financing costs		$ (27,000)		(26,000)
Senior Notes | 5.875% notes due 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		5.875%
Senior Notes | 5.250% notes due 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		5.25%
Senior Notes | 3.950% notes due 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		3.95%
Senior Notes | 3.625% notes due 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		3.625%
Senior Notes | 4.750% notes due 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		4.75%
Senior Notes | 2.625% notes due 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		2.625%
Senior Notes | 4.250% notes due 2025
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		4.25%
Senior Notes | 4.750% notes due 2025
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate		4.75%
Mortgage Loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Deferred financing costs		$ 0		(300)
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		6,086,467
Total indebtedness		6,024,987		5,899,037
Unamortized discounts		(16,658)
Long-term debt, net of discount (premium)		6,070,166
Unamortized net premiums		$ 357
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan — 5-year
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, term	5 years
Interest rate basis spread		1.10%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan — 7-year
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, term	7 years
Interest rate basis spread		1.55%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 164,786		967,884
Deferred financing costs		(11,597)		(7,613)
Total indebtedness		153,189		$ 960,271
Unamortized discounts		0
Long-term debt, net of discount (premium)		164,786
Unamortized net premiums		$ 0
Interest rate basis spread		1.00%
Weighted-average interest rate		1.39%		1.53%
Commitment fee percentage		0.20%
Number of extension options | extension		2
Debt instrument, extension term		6 months
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facility | Floating Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 156,786		$ 967,884
Weighted-average interest rate		1.28%		1.53%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facility | U.S. dollar ($) | Floating Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 50,000		$ 274,000
Weighted-average interest rate		1.53%		1.46%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facility | U.S. dollar ($) | Base Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 8,000		$ 0
Weighted-average interest rate		3.50%		0.00%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facility | British pound sterling (£)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Exchange rate | $ / £		1.30		1.47
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facility | British pound sterling (£) | Floating Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 26,593		$ 95,784
Weighted-average interest rate		1.26%		1.61%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facility | Euro (€)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Exchange rate | $ / €				1.09
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facility | Euro (€) | Floating Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 0		$ 280,565
Weighted-average interest rate		0.00%		0.90%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facility | Australian dollar (AUD)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Exchange rate | $ / AUD				0.73
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facility | Australian dollar (AUD) | Floating Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 0		$ 96,831
Weighted-average interest rate		0.00%		3.16%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facility | Hong Kong dollar (HKD)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Exchange rate | $ / HKD				0.13
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facility | Hong Kong dollar (HKD) | Floating Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 1,547		$ 86,082
Weighted-average interest rate		1.25%		1.33%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facility | Japanese yen (JPY)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Exchange rate | $ / ¥				0.01
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facility | Japanese yen (JPY) | Floating Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 47,268		$ 14,304
Weighted-average interest rate		0.93%		1.15%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facility | Singapore dollar (SGD)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Exchange rate | $ / SGD		0.73		0.70
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facility | Singapore dollar (SGD) | Floating Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 22,008		$ 49,132
Weighted-average interest rate		1.27%		1.92%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facility | Canadian dollar (CAD)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Exchange rate | $ / CAD				0.72
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facility | Canadian dollar (CAD) | Floating Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 9,370		$ 71,186
Weighted-average interest rate		1.88%		1.95%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 1,528,099		$ 924,568
Deferred financing costs		(6,486)		(1,301)
Total indebtedness		1,521,613		$ 923,267
Unamortized discounts		0
Long-term debt, net of discount (premium)		1,528,099
Unamortized net premiums		$ 0
Weighted-average interest rate		1.81%		1.76%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan | Interest Rate Swap
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted-average interest rate		2.16%		1.94%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan | U.S. dollar ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 710,911		$ 410,905
Weighted-average interest rate		1.82%		1.51%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan | U.S. dollar ($) | Interest Rate Swap
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted-average interest rate		2.39%		1.90%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan | British pound sterling (£)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 219,843		$ 178,195
Weighted-average interest rate		1.37%		1.78%
Exchange rate | $ / £		1.30		1.47
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan | British pound sterling (£) | Interest Rate Swap
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted-average interest rate		1.89%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan | Euro (€)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 0		$ 99,061
Weighted-average interest rate		0.00%		1.00%
Exchange rate | $ / €		1.12		1.09
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan | Australian dollar (AUD)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 181,100		$ 75,337
Weighted-average interest rate		2.72%		3.27%
Exchange rate | $ / AUD		0.77		0.73
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan | Hong Kong dollar (HKD)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 86,022		$ 0
Weighted-average interest rate		1.38%		0.00%
Exchange rate | $ / HKD		0.13
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan | Japanese yen (JPY)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 18,453		$ 0
Weighted-average interest rate		1.00%		0.00%
Exchange rate | $ / ¥		0.01
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan | Singapore dollar (SGD)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 236,733		$ 161,070
Weighted-average interest rate		1.64%		2.16%
Exchange rate | $ / SGD		0.73		0.70
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan | Singapore dollar (SGD) | Interest Rate Swap
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted-average interest rate		1.74%		2.19%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan | Canadian dollar (CAD)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 75,037		$ 0
Weighted-average interest rate		1.98%		0.00%
Exchange rate | $ / CAD		0.76
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan | Canadian dollar (CAD) | Interest Rate Swap
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted-average interest rate		1.88%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan | Unsecured term loan — 5-year
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 1,228,099		$ 924,568
Debt instrument, term		5 years
Interest rate basis spread		1.10%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan | Unsecured term loan — 7-year
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 300,000		0
Debt instrument, term		7 years
Interest rate basis spread		1.55%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Prudential Shelf Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 50,000		75,000
Unamortized discounts		0
Long-term debt, net of discount (premium)		50,000
Unamortized net premiums		0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Prudential Shelf Facility | Series C
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 0		25,000
Stated interest rate		9.68%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Prudential Shelf Facility | Series E
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 50,000		50,000
Stated interest rate		5.73%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 4,232,140
Deferred financing costs		(27,047)		(26,037)
Total indebtedness		4,238,435		3,712,569
Unamortized discounts		(16,658)		(17,914)
Long-term debt, net of discount (premium)		4,215,482		$ 3,663,606
Unamortized net premiums		$ 0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes | British pound sterling (£)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Exchange rate | $ / £		1.30		1.47
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes | 5.875% notes due 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 500,000		$ 500,000
Stated interest rate		5.875%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes | 3.400% notes due 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 500,000		500,000
Stated interest rate		3.40%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes | 5.250% notes due 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 400,000		400,000
Stated interest rate		5.25%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes | 3.950% notes due 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 500,000		500,000
Stated interest rate		3.95%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes | 3.625% notes due 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 300,000		300,000
Stated interest rate		3.625%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes | 4.750% notes due 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 389,160		442,080
Stated interest rate		4.75%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes | 2.625% notes due 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 674,100		0
Stated interest rate		2.625%	2.625%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes | 4.250% notes due 2025
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 518,880		589,440
Stated interest rate		4.25%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes | 4.750% notes due 2025
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 450,000		450,000
Stated interest rate		4.75%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Mortgage Loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 111,442
Deferred financing costs		(49)		(253)
Total indebtedness		111,750		302,930
Unamortized discounts		0
Long-term debt, net of discount (premium)		111,799		303,183
Unamortized net premiums		357		439
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Mortgage Loans | 2045 & 2055 Lafayette Street
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 60,561		61,437
Effective interest rate (as a percent)		5.93%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Mortgage Loans | 34551 Ardenwood Boulevard 1-4
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 0		50,477
Effective interest rate (as a percent)		5.95%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Mortgage Loans | 1100 Space Park Drive
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 0		50,423
Effective interest rate (as a percent)		5.89%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Mortgage Loans | 600 West Seventh Street
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 0		46,000
Effective interest rate (as a percent)		5.80%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Mortgage Loans | 150 South First Street
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 47,835		48,484
Effective interest rate (as a percent)		6.30%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Mortgage Loans | 2334 Lundy Place
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 0		36,714
Effective interest rate (as a percent)		5.96%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Mortgage Loans | 8025 North Interstate 35
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 0		5,789
Effective interest rate (as a percent)		4.09%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Mortgage Loans | 731 East Trade Street
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 3,046		$ 3,420
Effective interest rate (as a percent)		8.22%