Quarterly Financial Information (Digital Realty Trust, L.P.) (Summary Of Selected Quarterly Financial Data) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Sep. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	$ 576,787	$ 546,293	$ 514,934	$ 504,199	$ 500,443	$ 435,989	$ 420,295	$ 406,609	$ 2,142,213	$ 1,763,336	$ 1,616,438
Net income (loss)	96,140	222,435	50,944	62,333	(16,573)	57,842	137,997	122,325	431,852	301,591	203,415
Net income (loss) attributable to Digital Realty Trust, L.P.	95,075	219,188	50,375	61,549	(15,983)	56,978	135,511	120,183	426,187	296,689	200,183
Preferred unit distributions and issuance costs associated with redeemed preferred units	17,393	31,858	22,424	22,424	24,056	18,456	18,456	18,455	83,771	79,423	67,465
Net income available to common stockholders/unitholders	$ 77,682	$ 187,330	$ 27,951	$ 39,125	$ (40,039)	$ 38,522	$ 117,055	$ 101,728	$ 332,088	$ 217,266	$ 132,718
Basic net income (loss) per unit available to common unitholders (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.49	$ 1.27	$ 0.19	$ 0.27	$ (0.28)	$ 0.28	$ 0.86	$ 0.75	$ 2.21	$ 1.57	$ 1.00
Diluted net income (loss) per unit available to common unitholders (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.49	$ 1.25	$ 0.19	$ 0.27	$ (0.28)	$ 0.28	$ 0.86	$ 0.75	$ 2.20	$ 1.56	$ 0.99
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	$ 576,787	$ 546,293	$ 514,934	$ 504,199	$ 500,443	$ 435,989	$ 420,295	$ 406,609	$ 2,142,213	$ 1,763,336	$ 1,616,438
Net income (loss)	96,140	222,435	50,944	62,333	(16,785)	56,689	137,997	122,325	431,852	300,226	203,415
Net income (loss) attributable to Digital Realty Trust, L.P.	96,229	222,212	50,832	62,212	(16,903)	56,572	137,888	122,209	431,485	299,766	202,950
Preferred unit distributions and issuance costs associated with redeemed preferred units	17,393	31,858	22,424	22,424	24,056	18,456	18,456	18,455	83,771	79,423	67,465
Net income available to common stockholders/unitholders	$ 78,836	$ 190,354	$ 28,408	$ 39,788	$ (40,959)	$ 38,116	$ 119,432	$ 103,754	$ 337,386	$ 220,343	$ 135,485
Basic net income (loss) per unit available to common unitholders (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.49	$ 1.27	$ 0.19	$ 0.27	$ (0.28)	$ 0.28	$ 0.86	$ 0.75	$ 2.21	$ 1.56	$ 1.00
Diluted net income (loss) per unit available to common unitholders (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.49	$ 1.25	$ 0.19	$ 0.27	$ (0.28)	$ 0.27	$ 0.86	$ 0.75	$ 2.20	$ 1.55	$ 0.99