Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 7,446	$ 5,844
Accumulated amortization, acquired in-place leases, deferred leasing costs, and other intangible assets	772,443	621,132
Accumulated amortization, below market leases	$ 202,000	$ 193,677
Preferred stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred stock, shares authorized (in shares)	110,000,000	70,000,000
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common stock, shares authorized (in shares)	265,000,000	215,000,000
Common stock, shares issued (in shares)	159,019,118	146,384,247
Common stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	159,019,118	146,384,247
Acquired above-market leases
Accumulated amortization, acquired above market leases	$ 87,961	$ 89,613
Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, liquidation preference value	$ 0	$ 287,500
Preferred stock, dividend rate	7.00%	7.00%
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	0	11,500,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	0	11,500,000
Series F Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, liquidation preference value	$ 182,500	$ 182,500
Preferred stock, dividend rate	6.625%	6.625%
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	7,300,000	7,300,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	7,300,000	7,300,000
Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, liquidation preference value	$ 250,000	$ 250,000
Preferred stock, dividend rate	5.875%	5.875%
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	10,000,000	10,000,000
Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, liquidation preference value	$ 365,000	$ 365,000
Preferred stock, dividend rate	7.375%	7.375%
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	14,600,000	14,600,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	14,600,000	14,600,000
Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, liquidation preference value	$ 250,000	$ 250,000
Preferred stock, dividend rate	6.35%	6.35%
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock, shares issued (in shares)	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred stock, shares outstanding (in shares)	10,000,000	10,000,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 7,446	$ 5,844
Accumulated amortization, deferred leasing costs and intangible	772,443	621,132
Accumulated amortization, below market leases	$ 202,000	$ 193,677
Common units, issued (in units)	159,019,118	146,384,247
Common units, outstanding (in units)	159,019,118	146,384,247
Limited Partners, common units (in units)	1,141,814	1,421,314
Limited Partners, profits interest units (in units)	995,265	1,032,775
Limited Partners, Class C units outstanding (in units)	338,584	379,237
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Acquired above-market leases
Accumulated amortization, acquired above market leases	$ 87,961	$ 89,613
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, liquidation preference value	$ 0	$ 287,500
Preferred stock, dividend rate	7.00%	7.00%
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred units, issued (in units)	0	11,500,000
Preferred units, outstanding (in units)	0	11,500,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series F Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, liquidation preference value	$ 182,500	$ 182,500
Preferred stock, dividend rate	6.625%	6.625%
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred units, issued (in units)	7,300,000	7,300,000
Preferred units, outstanding (in units)	7,300,000	7,300,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, liquidation preference value	$ 250,000	$ 250,000
Preferred stock, dividend rate	5.875%	5.875%
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred units, issued (in units)	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred units, outstanding (in units)	10,000,000	10,000,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, liquidation preference value	$ 365,000	$ 365,000
Preferred stock, dividend rate	7.375%	7.375%
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred units, issued (in units)	14,600,000	14,600,000
Preferred units, outstanding (in units)	14,600,000	14,600,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Preferred stock, liquidation preference value	$ 250,000	$ 250,000
Preferred stock, dividend rate	6.35%	6.35%
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred units, issued (in units)	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred units, outstanding (in units)	10,000,000	10,000,000