Income per Unit (Summary of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share) (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
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Net income available to common unitholders	$ 77,682	$ 187,330	$ 27,951	$ 39,125	$ (40,039)	$ 38,522	$ 117,055	$ 101,728	$ 332,088	$ 217,266	$ 132,718
Weighted average units outstanding—basic (in shares)									149,953,662	138,247,606	133,369,047
Potentially dilutive common units:
Stock options (in shares)									9,726	20,424	30,434
Unvested incentive units (in shares)									71,031	95,746	90,449
Forward equity offering (in units)									3,990	0	0
Market performance-based awards (in shares)									641,279	501,645	147,305
Weighted average units outstanding—diluted (in shares)									150,679,688	138,865,421	133,637,235
Income per unit:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.49	$ 1.27	$ 0.19	$ 0.27	$ (0.28)	$ 0.28	$ 0.86	$ 0.75	$ 2.21	$ 1.57	$ 1.00
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 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.
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Net income available to common unitholders	$ 78,836	$ 190,354	$ 28,408	$ 39,788	$ (40,959)	$ 38,116	$ 119,432	$ 103,754	$ 337,386	$ 220,343	$ 135,485
Weighted average units outstanding—basic (in shares)									152,359,680	140,905,897	136,122,661
Potentially dilutive common units:
Stock options (in shares)									9,726	20,424	30,434
Unvested incentive units (in shares)									71,031	95,746	90,449
Forward equity offering (in units)									3,990	0	0
Market performance-based awards (in shares)									641,279	501,645	147,305
Weighted average units outstanding—diluted (in shares)									153,085,706	141,523,712	136,390,849
Income per unit:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.49	$ 1.27	$ 0.19	$ 0.27	$ (0.28)	$ 0.28	$ 0.86	$ 0.75	$ 2.21	$ 1.56	$ 1.00
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.49	$ 1.25	$ 0.19	$ 0.27	$ (0.28)	$ 0.27	$ 0.86	$ 0.75	$ 2.20	$ 1.55	$ 0.99