Derivative Instruments (Details) £ in Thousands, $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($) instrument $ / SGD $ / £ $ / CAD	Sep. 30, 2016 GBP (£) instrument $ / SGD $ / £ $ / CAD	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($) $ / SGD $ / £
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	$ 1,144,802		$ 469,484
Gain (loss) to be reclassified within twelve months	$ (5,800)
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan — 5-year
Derivative [Line Items]
Debt instrument, term	5 years
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan — 7-year
Derivative [Line Items]
Debt instrument, term	7 years
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan | Singapore dollar (SGD)
Derivative [Line Items]
Exchange rate | $ / SGD	0.73	0.73	0.70
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan | British pound sterling (£)
Derivative [Line Items]
Exchange rate | $ / £	1.30	1.30	1.47
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan | Canadian dollar (CAD)
Derivative [Line Items]
Exchange rate | $ / CAD	0.76	0.76
Interest Rate Swap, 0.932
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	$ 206,000		$ 206,000
Strike Rate	0.932%	0.932%
Interest Rate Swap, 0.670
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	$ 54,905		54,905
Strike Rate	0.67%	0.67%
Interest Rate Swap, 0.500
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	$ 0		75,000
Strike Rate	0.50%	0.50%
Interest Rate Swap 1.016
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	$ 75,000		0
Strike Rate	1.016%	1.016%
Interest Rate Swap, 1.164
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	$ 75,000		0
Strike Rate	1.164%	1.164%
Interest Rate Swap, 1.435
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	$ 300,000		0
Strike Rate	1.435%	1.435%
Interest Rate Swap, 0.925
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	$ 139,017		133,579
Strike Rate	0.925%	0.925%
Interest Rate Swap, 0.792
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	$ 219,843		0
Strike Rate	0.792%	0.792%
Interest Rate Swap, 0.779
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	$ 75,037		0
Strike Rate	0.779%	0.779%
Currency forward contracts
Derivative [Line Items]
Loss on derivatives not designated as hedging	$ 3,100
Level 2
Derivative [Line Items]
Fair value of derivatives	(10,593)		1,143
Level 2 | Interest Rate Swap, 0.932
Derivative [Line Items]
Fair value of derivatives	(356)		(416)
Level 2 | Interest Rate Swap, 0.670
Derivative [Line Items]
Fair value of derivatives	(16)		69
Level 2 | Interest Rate Swap, 0.500
Derivative [Line Items]
Fair value of derivatives	0		(10)
Level 2 | Interest Rate Swap 1.016
Derivative [Line Items]
Fair value of derivatives	(240)		0
Level 2 | Interest Rate Swap, 1.164
Derivative [Line Items]
Fair value of derivatives	(707)		0
Level 2 | Interest Rate Swap, 1.435
Derivative [Line Items]
Fair value of derivatives	(6,492)		0
Level 2 | Interest Rate Swap, 0.925
Derivative [Line Items]
Fair value of derivatives	(110)		1,500
Level 2 | Interest Rate Swap, 0.792
Derivative [Line Items]
Fair value of derivatives	(3,045)		0
Level 2 | Interest Rate Swap, 0.779
Derivative [Line Items]
Fair value of derivatives	$ 373		$ 0
Not designated as hedging instrument | Currency forward contracts
Derivative [Line Items]
Number of Instruments | instrument	4	4
Designated as Hedging Instrument [Member] | Currency forward contracts
Derivative [Line Items]
Fair value of derivatives	$ 50,090
Notional Amount Sold | Not designated as hedging instrument | Currency forward contracts
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount | £		£ 357,299
Notional Amount Purchased | Not designated as hedging instrument | Currency forward contracts
Derivative [Line Items]
Notional Amount	$ 518,469