Condensed Consolidated Statement Of Capital - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Balance (units) as of December 31, 2015		146,384,247
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units		$ 4,049
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan		3,349
Preferred unit offering costs		(2)
Redemption of series E preferred units		(287,500)
Amortization of share-based compensation		18,496
Net income	$ 222,435	335,712
Other comprehensive income—foreign currency translation adjustments	(18,438)	(37,388)
Other comprehensive loss—fair value of interest rate swaps	14,806	(2,113)
Other comprehensive income—reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive loss to interest expense	$ 1,313	$ 3,569
Balance (units) as of September 30, 2016	158,926,811	158,926,811
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Balance as of December 31, 2015		$ 4,535,137
Common unit offering costs, net		1,086,091
Issuance of common units in connection with the exercise of stock options		1,380
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan		3,349
Preferred unit offering costs		(2)
Amortization of share-based compensation		18,496
Distributions		(459,708)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of contributions		(375)
Net income	$ 222,435	335,712
Other comprehensive income—foreign currency translation adjustments	(18,438)	(37,388)
Other comprehensive loss—fair value of interest rate swaps	14,806	(2,113)
Other comprehensive income—reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive loss to interest expense	1,313	3,569
Balance as of September 30, 2016	5,196,648	5,196,648
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Balance as of December 31, 2015		(100,964)
Other comprehensive income—foreign currency translation adjustments		(37,388)
Other comprehensive loss—fair value of interest rate swaps		(2,113)
Other comprehensive income—reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive loss to interest expense		3,569
Balance as of September 30, 2016	(136,896)	(136,896)
Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Joint Ventures | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Balance as of December 31, 2015		6,758
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of contributions		(375)
Net income		456
Balance as of September 30, 2016	6,839	6,839
General Partner | Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Balance as of December 31, 2015		$ 1,290,135
Balance (units) as of December 31, 2015		53,400,000
Preferred unit offering costs		$ (2)
Redemption of series E preferred units		$ (277,172)
Redemption of series E preferred units (units)		(11,500,000)
Distributions		$ (66,378)
Net income		66,378
Balance as of September 30, 2016	$ 1,012,961	$ 1,012,961
Balance (units) as of September 30, 2016	41,900,000	41,900,000
General Partner | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Balance as of December 31, 2015		$ 3,305,222
Balance (units) as of December 31, 2015		146,384,247
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units		$ 4,049
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)		339,146
Issuance of unvested restricted common units, net of forfeitures (units)		119,122
Common unit offering costs, net		$ 1,086,091
Common unit offering costs, net (units)		12,000,000
Issuance of common units in connection with the exercise of stock options		$ 1,380
Issuance of common units in connection with the exercise of stock options (units)		33,948
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan		$ 3,349
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan (units)		50,348
Redemption of series E preferred units		$ (10,328)
Amortization of share-based compensation		18,496
Reclassification of vested share-based awards		(9,122)
Distributions		(386,172)
Net income		264,734
Balance as of September 30, 2016	$ 4,277,699	$ 4,277,699
Balance (units) as of September 30, 2016	158,926,811	158,926,811
Limited Partners | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Balance as of December 31, 2015		$ 33,986
Balance (units) as of December 31, 2015		2,833,326
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units		$ (4,049)
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)		(339,146)
Issuance of common units, net of forfeitures (units)		26,811
Reclassification of vested share-based awards		$ 9,122
Distributions		(7,158)
Net income		4,144
Balance as of September 30, 2016	$ 36,045	$ 36,045
Balance (units) as of September 30, 2016	2,520,991	2,520,991