Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Properties:
Land	$ 746,822	$ 689,573
Acquired ground leases	11,335	12,639
Buildings and improvements	10,267,525	9,676,427
Tenant improvements	532,787	536,734
Total investments in properties	11,558,469	10,915,373
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(2,668,509)	(2,251,268)
Net investments in properties	8,889,960	8,664,105
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	106,402	106,107
Net investments in real estate	8,996,362	8,770,212
Cash and cash equivalents	10,528	57,053
Accounts and other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $7,446 and $5,844 as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	203,938	177,398
Deferred rent	412,269	403,327
Acquired above-market leases, net of accumulated amortization of $87,961 and $89,613 as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	22,181	32,698
Goodwill	752,970	330,664
Acquired in-place lease value, deferred leasing costs and intangibles, net of accumulated amortization of $772,443 and $621,132	1,522,378	1,391,659
Restricted cash	11,508	18,009
Assets held for sale	56,097	180,139
Other assets	204,354	54,904
Total assets	12,192,585	11,416,063
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Unsecured senior notes, net of discount	4,153,797	3,712,569
Mortgage loans, including premiums	3,240	302,930
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	824,878	608,343
Accrued dividends and distributions	144,194	126,925
Acquired below-market leases, net of accumulated amortization of $202,000 and $193,677 as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	81,899	101,114
Security deposits and prepaid rents	168,111	138,347
Obligations associated with assets held for sale	2,599	5,795
Total liabilities	7,060,288	6,879,561
Commitments and contingencies
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 110,000,000 authorized as of December 31, 2016 and 70,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2015:
Common Stock: $0.01 par value, 265,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2016 and 215,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2015, 159,019,118 and 146,384,247 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	1,582	1,456
Additional paid-in capital	5,764,497	4,655,220
Accumulated dividends in excess of earnings	(1,547,420)	(1,350,089)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(135,605)	(96,590)
Total stockholders’ equity	5,096,015	4,500,132
Noncontrolling Interests:
Noncontrolling interests in operating partnership	29,684	29,612
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures	6,598	6,758
Total noncontrolling interests	36,282	36,370
Total equity	5,132,297	4,536,502
Total liabilities and equity	12,192,585	11,416,063
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Properties:
Land	746,822	689,573
Acquired ground leases	11,335	12,639
Buildings and improvements	10,267,525	9,676,427
Tenant improvements	532,787	536,734
Total investments in properties	11,558,469	10,915,373
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(2,668,509)	(2,251,268)
Net investments in properties	8,889,960	8,664,105
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	106,402	106,107
Net investments in real estate	8,996,362	8,770,212
Cash and cash equivalents	10,528	57,053
Accounts and other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $7,446 and $5,844 as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	203,938	177,398
Deferred rent	412,269	403,327
Acquired above-market leases, net of accumulated amortization of $87,961 and $89,613 as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	22,181	32,698
Goodwill	752,970	330,664
Acquired in-place lease value, deferred leasing costs and intangibles, net of accumulated amortization of $772,443 and $621,132	1,522,378	1,391,659
Restricted cash	11,508	18,009
Assets held for sale	56,097	180,139
Other assets	204,354	54,904
Total assets	12,192,585	11,416,063
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Unsecured senior notes, net of discount	4,153,797	3,712,569
Mortgage loans, including premiums	3,240	302,930
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	824,878	609,708
Accrued dividends and distributions	144,194	126,925
Acquired below-market leases, net of accumulated amortization of $202,000 and $193,677 as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	81,899	101,114
Security deposits and prepaid rents	168,111	138,347
Obligations associated with assets held for sale	2,599	5,795
Total liabilities	7,060,288	6,880,926
Commitments and contingencies
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 110,000,000 authorized as of December 31, 2016 and 70,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2015:
Common units: 146,384,247 and 135,626,255 units issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively	4,218,659	3,305,222
Limited partners, 1,141,814 and 1,421,314 common units, 995,265 and 1,032,775 profits interest units and 338,584 and 379,237 class C units outstanding as of December 31, 2016 and December 31, 2015, respectively	34,698	33,986
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(140,619)	(100,964)
Total partners’ capital	5,125,699	4,528,379
Noncontrolling Interests:
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures	6,598	6,758
Total capital	5,132,297	4,535,137
Total liabilities and equity	12,192,585	11,416,063
Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 110,000,000 authorized as of December 31, 2016 and 70,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2015:
Preferred Stock	0	277,172
Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 110,000,000 authorized as of December 31, 2016 and 70,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2015:
Preferred Stock	0	277,172
Series F Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 110,000,000 authorized as of December 31, 2016 and 70,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2015:
Preferred Stock	176,191	176,191
Series F Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 110,000,000 authorized as of December 31, 2016 and 70,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2015:
Preferred Stock	176,191	176,191
Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 110,000,000 authorized as of December 31, 2016 and 70,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2015:
Preferred Stock	241,468	241,468
Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 110,000,000 authorized as of December 31, 2016 and 70,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2015:
Preferred Stock	241,468	241,468
Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 110,000,000 authorized as of December 31, 2016 and 70,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2015:
Preferred Stock	353,290	353,290
Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 110,000,000 authorized as of December 31, 2016 and 70,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2015:
Preferred Stock	353,290	353,290
Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 110,000,000 authorized as of December 31, 2016 and 70,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2015:
Preferred Stock	242,012	242,014
Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 110,000,000 authorized as of December 31, 2016 and 70,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2015:
Preferred Stock	242,012	242,014
Global revolving credit facility
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Line of credit	199,209	960,271
Global revolving credit facility | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Line of credit	199,209	960,271
Unsecured term loan
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Line of credit	1,482,361	923,267
Unsecured term loan | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Line of credit	$ 1,482,361	$ 923,267