Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Schedule of Dividends/Distributions) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 15, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Series E Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		$ 10,062
Preferred stock dividend per share amount ($ per share/unit)		$ 1.75
Redemption price per share (in dollars per share)	$ 25.35972
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference ($ per share/unit)	$ 25.00	$ 25	$ 25
Accrued and unpaid dividends up to but not including the redemption date	$ 4,100
Redemption premium	$ 10,300	$ 10,300
Series F Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		$ 9,069
Preferred stock dividend per share amount ($ per share/unit)		$ 1.656
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference ($ per share/unit)		$ 25	25
Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		$ 11,016
Preferred stock dividend per share amount ($ per share/unit)		$ 1.469
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference ($ per share/unit)		$ 25	25
Series H Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		$ 20,190
Preferred stock dividend per share amount ($ per share/unit)		$ 1.844
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference ($ per share/unit)		$ 25	25
Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		$ 11,907
Preferred stock dividend per share amount ($ per share/unit)		$ 1.588
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference ($ per share/unit)		$ 25	25
February 17, 2016
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Date dividend/distribution declared		Feb. 17, 2016
Dividend/Distribution payment date		Mar. 31, 2016
February 17, 2016 | Series E Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		$ 5,031
February 17, 2016 | Series F Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		3,023
February 17, 2016 | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		3,672
February 17, 2016 | Series H Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		6,730
February 17, 2016 | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		$ 3,969
May 11, 2016
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Date dividend/distribution declared		May 11, 2016
Dividend/Distribution payment date		Jun. 30, 2016
May 11, 2016 | Series E Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		$ 5,031
May 11, 2016 | Series F Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		3,023
May 11, 2016 | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		3,672
May 11, 2016 | Series H Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		6,730
May 11, 2016 | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		$ 3,969
August 10, 2016
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Date dividend/distribution declared		Aug. 10, 2016
Dividend/Distribution payment date		Sep. 30, 2016
August 10, 2016 | Series E Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		$ 0
August 10, 2016 | Series F Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		3,023
August 10, 2016 | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		3,672
August 10, 2016 | Series H Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		6,730
August 10, 2016 | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series E Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		$ 10,062
Redemption price per share (in dollars per share)	$ 25.35972
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference ($ per share/unit)	$ 25.00	$ 25.00	25.00
Accrued and unpaid dividends up to but not including the redemption date	$ 4,100
Redemption premium	$ 10,300
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series F Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		$ 9,069
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference ($ per share/unit)		$ 25.00	25.00
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		$ 11,016
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference ($ per share/unit)		$ 25.00	25.00
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series H Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		$ 20,190
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference ($ per share/unit)		$ 25.00	25.00
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		$ 11,907
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference ($ per share/unit)		$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units		$ 394,851
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | February 17, 2016
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Date dividend/distribution declared		Feb. 17, 2016
Dividend/Distribution payment date		Mar. 31, 2016
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | February 17, 2016 | Series E Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		$ 5,031
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | February 17, 2016 | Series F Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		3,023
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | February 17, 2016 | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | February 17, 2016 | Series H Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		6,730
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | February 17, 2016 | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | February 17, 2016 | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units		$ 131,587
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | May 11, 2016
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Date dividend/distribution declared		May 11, 2016
Dividend/Distribution payment date		Jun. 30, 2016
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | May 11, 2016 | Series E Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		$ 5,031
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | May 11, 2016 | Series F Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		3,023
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | May 11, 2016 | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | May 11, 2016 | Series H Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		6,730
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | May 11, 2016 | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | May 11, 2016 | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units		$ 131,607
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | August 10, 2016
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Date dividend/distribution declared		Aug. 10, 2016
Dividend/Distribution payment date		Sep. 30, 2016
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | August 10, 2016 | Series E Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		$ 0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | August 10, 2016 | Series F Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		3,023
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | August 10, 2016 | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | August 10, 2016 | Series H Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		6,730
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | August 10, 2016 | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units		3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | August 10, 2016 | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units		$ 131,657
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Annual rate | Series E Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount ($ per share/unit)		$ 1.75
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Annual rate | Series F Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount ($ per share/unit)		1.656
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Annual rate | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount ($ per share/unit)		1.469
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Annual rate | Series H Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount ($ per share/unit)		1.844
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Annual rate | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount ($ per share/unit)		1.588
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Annual rate | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Common stock dividend per share amount ($ per share/unit)		$ 3.52