Consolidated Statements of Capital - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Mar. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance (in units)		146,384,247			146,384,247
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units					$ (5,242)	$ 1,843	$ 1,655
Common unit offering costs						799	(625)
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan					3,349
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred units					1,085,444	675,577	266,400
Preferred unit offering costs					(2)
Redemption of series E preferred units					(287,500)
Conversion of preferred units						242,014	353,290
Amortization of unearned compensation on share-based awards					24,113	14,375	23,737
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of contributions					(527)	(493)	(643)
Net income (loss)	$ 96,140	$ 62,333	$ (16,573)	$ 122,325	431,852	301,591	203,415
Other comprehensive income— foreign currency translation adjustments					(86,621)	(51,745)	(52,373)
Other comprehensive income— fair value of derivatives					41,998	(3,407)	(7,936)
Other comprehensive income— reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive loss to interest expense					$ 4,968	$ 2,621	3,419
Balance (in units)	159,019,118		146,384,247		159,019,118	146,384,247
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance as of Beginning of Period		4,535,137		3,914,238	$ 4,535,137	$ 3,914,238	3,646,512
Common unit offering costs						799	(625)
Issuance of common units in connection with the exercise of stock options					1,380	896	711
Issuance of common units					1,085,444	675,577	266,400
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan					3,349
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred units						242,014	353,290
Preferred unit offering costs					(2)
Redemption of series E preferred units					(287,500)
Amortization of unearned compensation on share-based awards					24,113	14,375	23,737
Distributions					(621,294)	(559,964)	(521,669)
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of contributions					(527)	(493)	(643)
Net income (loss)	$ 96,140	62,333	$ (16,785)	122,325	431,852	300,226	203,415
Other comprehensive income— foreign currency translation adjustments					(86,621)	(51,745)	(52,373)
Other comprehensive income— fair value of derivatives					41,998	(3,407)	(7,936)
Other comprehensive income— reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive loss to interest expense					4,968	2,621	3,419
Balance as of End of Period	5,132,297		4,535,137		5,132,297	4,535,137	3,914,238
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance as of Beginning of Period		(100,964)		(48,433)	(100,964)	(48,433)	8,457
Other comprehensive income— foreign currency translation adjustments					(86,621)	(51,745)	(52,373)
Other comprehensive income— fair value of derivatives					41,998	(3,407)	(7,936)
Other comprehensive income— reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive loss to interest expense					4,968	2,621	3,419
Balance as of End of Period	(140,619)		(100,964)		(140,619)	(100,964)	(48,433)
Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Joint Ventures | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance as of Beginning of Period		6,758		6,791	6,758	6,791	6,969
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of contributions					(527)	(493)	(643)
Net income (loss)					367	460	465
Balance as of End of Period	$ 6,598		$ 6,758		6,598	6,758	6,791
General Partner | Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance as of Beginning of Period		$ 1,290,135		$ 1,048,121	$ 1,290,135	$ 1,048,121	$ 694,831
Balance (in units)		53,400,000		43,400,000	53,400,000	43,400,000	28,800,000
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred units						$ 242,014	$ 353,290
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred units (in units)						10,000,000	14,600,000
Preferred unit offering costs					$ (2)
Redemption of series E preferred units					$ (277,172)
Redemption of series E preferred units (units)					(11,500,000)
Distributions					$ (83,771)	$ (79,423)	$ (67,465)
Net income (loss)					$ 83,771	$ 79,423	$ 67,465
Balance (in units)	41,900,000		53,400,000		41,900,000	53,400,000	43,400,000
Balance as of End of Period	$ 1,012,961		$ 1,290,135		$ 1,012,961	$ 1,290,135	$ 1,048,121
General Partner | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance as of Beginning of Period		$ 3,305,222		$ 2,875,181	$ 3,305,222	$ 2,875,181	$ 2,904,994
Balance (in units)		146,384,247		135,626,255	146,384,247	135,626,255	128,455,350
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units					$ 5,242	$ 1,843	$ 1,655
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)					430,493	156,008	134,073
Issuance of restricted common units, net of forfeitures (units)					120,082	72,673	124,163
Common unit offering costs						$ 799	$ (625)
Issuance of common units in connection with the exercise of stock options					$ 1,380	$ 896	$ 711
Issuance of common units in connection with the exercise of stock options (units)					33,948	29,311	42,757
Issuance of common units					$ 1,085,444	$ 675,577	$ 266,400
Issuance of common stock in exchange for cash and debentures (units)					12,000,000	10,500,000	6,869,912
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan					$ 3,349
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan (units)					50,348
Redemption of series E preferred units					$ (10,328)
Amortization of unearned compensation on share-based awards					24,113	$ 14,375	$ 23,737
Reclassification of vested share-based awards					(10,125)	(8,602)	(10,306)
Distributions					(528,054)	(470,748)	(444,103)
Net income (loss)					$ 342,416	$ 215,901	$ 132,718
Balance (in units)	159,019,118		146,384,247		159,019,118	146,384,247	135,626,255
Balance as of End of Period	$ 4,218,659		$ 3,305,222		$ 4,218,659	$ 3,305,222	$ 2,875,181
Limited Partners | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Balance as of Beginning of Period		$ 33,986		$ 32,578	$ 33,986	$ 32,578	$ 31,261
Balance (in units)		2,833,326		3,013,661	2,833,326	3,013,661	2,967,021
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units					$ (5,242)	$ (1,843)	$ (1,655)
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)					(430,493)	(156,008)	(134,073)
Issuance of common units, net of forfeitures (units)					72,830	(24,327)	180,713
Reclassification of vested share-based awards					$ 10,125	$ 8,602	$ 10,306
Distributions					(9,469)	(9,793)	(10,101)
Net income (loss)					$ 5,298	$ 4,442	$ 2,767
Balance (in units)	2,475,663		2,833,326		2,475,663	2,833,326	3,013,661
Balance as of End of Period	$ 34,698		$ 33,986		$ 34,698	$ 33,986	$ 32,578