Debt of the Operating Partnership (5.250% Notes Due 2021) (Narrative) (Details)		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 08, 2011 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2014 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Borrowings of unsecured senior notes		$ 766,201,000	$ 0	$ 0
Unsecured senior notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Deferred financing costs, net		$ 25,400,000	26,000,000
Unsecured senior notes | 5.250% notes due 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate		5.25%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized discount		$ 15,649,000
Borrowings of unsecured senior notes		766,201,000	0	$ 0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized discount		15,649,000	17,914,000
Deferred financing costs, net		$ 25,374,000	$ 26,037,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes | 5.250% notes due 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt face amount	$ 400,000,000
Interest rate	5.25%	5.25%
Purchase price paid, percentage of face amount	99.775%
Unamortized discount	$ 900,000
Deferred financing costs, net	3,600,000
Borrowings of unsecured senior notes	$ 395,500,000
Leverage ratio percentage		60.00%
Secured debt ratio percentage		40.00%
Interest coverage ratio		1.50
Unencumbered assets to unsecured debt		150.00%