Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	$ 431,852	$ 301,591	$ 203,415
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on sale of properties	(169,902)	(94,604)	(15,945)
Non-cash gain on lease termination	(29,205)	0	0
Gain on contribution of investment properties to unconsolidated joint venture	0	0	(95,404)
Gain on sale of investment	0	0	(14,551)
Impairment of investments in real estate	0	0	126,470
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	(17,104)	(15,491)	(13,289)
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	0	(44,276)	(8,093)
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	16,755	14,947	9,684
Write-off of net assets due to early lease terminations	213	75,263	2,692
Gain on settlement of pre-existing relationships with Telx	0	(14,355)	0
Depreciation and amortization of buildings and improvements, tenant improvements and acquired ground leases	518,716	464,694	456,204
Amortization of share-based unearned compensation	17,433	6,360	18,019
Allowance for (recovery of) doubtful accounts	1,602	(458)	726
Amortization of deferred financing costs	9,908	8,481	8,969
Write-off of deferred financing costs, included in loss on early extinguishment of debt	1,011	148	780
Amortization of debt discount/premium	2,616	2,032	1,837
Amortization of acquired in-place lease value and deferred leasing costs	180,608	105,833	82,310
Amortization of acquired above-market leases and acquired below-market leases	(8,351)	(9,336)	(9,983)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of impact of Telx and European Portfolio Acquisitions
Restricted cash	1,020	2,392	13,523
Accounts and other receivables	(13,754)	(10,127)	(11,426)
Deferred rent	(24,401)	(48,404)	(77,483)
Deferred leasing costs	60	(11,688)	(32,068)
Other assets	(69,924)	(2,928)	(11,675)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	38,432	36,113	24,775
Security deposits and prepaid rents	24,677	33,045	(3,599)
Net cash provided by operating activities	912,262	799,232	655,888
Cash flows from investing activities:
Telx Acquisition, net of cash acquired	0	(1,850,061)	0
Acquisitions of real estate, net of cash acquired	(873,285)	(99,247)	(24,305)
Proceeds from sale of assets, net of sales costs	359,319	185,565	37,945
Proceeds from contribution of investment properties to unconsolidated joint venture	0	0	178,933
Proceeds from sale of investment	0	0	31,635
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	0	(10,797)	(20,627)
Receipt of value added tax refund	11,624	17,570	18,992
Refundable value added tax paid	(43,719)	(30,322)	(29,585)
Change in restricted cash	4,166	1,479	14,899
Improvements to and advances for investments in real estate	(758,081)	(737,180)	(852,386)
Improvement advances to tenants	(16,239)	(40,553)	(20,059)
Collection of advances from tenants for improvements	16,784	37,524	20,378
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,299,431)	(2,526,022)	(644,180)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	2,533,507	2,436,032	1,124,608
Repayments on revolving credit facility	(3,283,087)	(1,958,025)	(1,297,785)
Borrowings on unsecured term loan	766,201	0	0
Repayments on unsecured term loan	(170,736)	0	0
Principal payments on unsecured notes	0	(374,927)	0
Borrowings on unsecured senior notes	675,591	1,445,127	495,872
Repayments on other secured loans	(25,000)	(67,000)	0
Principal payments on mortgage loans	(299,826)	(75,492)	(177,882)
Earnout payments related to acquisitions	(23,213)	(12,985)	(11,011)
Change in restricted cash	1,314	(1,502)	510
Payment of loan fees and costs	(19,574)	(13,488)	(4,860)
Capital distributions to from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures	(527)	(493)	(643)
Gross proceeds from the issuance of common stock	1,089,154	675,577	0
Gross proceeds from the issuance of preferred stock	0	250,000	365,000
Common and preferred stock offering costs paid, net	(3,712)	(6,633)	(12,335)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	4,729	896	711
Redemption of preferred stock	(287,500)	0	0
Payment of distributions to preferred stockholders/unitholders	(83,771)	(79,423)	(67,465)
Payment of distributions to common stockholders/unitholders	(521,619)	(468,635)	(441,694)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	351,931	1,749,029	(26,974)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(35,238)	22,239	(15,266)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(11,287)	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	57,053	34,814	50,080
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	10,528	57,053	34,814
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized	216,713	180,141	180,456
Cash paid for income taxes	3,698	3,122	3,099
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in net assets related to foreign currency translation adjustments	(86,621)	(51,745)	(52,373)
Accrual of dividends and distributions	144,194	126,925	115,019
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	41,998	(3,407)	(7,936)
Noncontrolling interests in operating partnership redeemed for or converted to shares of common stock	(5,242)	1,843	1,655
Accrual for additions to investments in real estate and tenant improvement advances included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	128,531	109,394	153,080
Accrual for potential earnout contingency	0	19,364	12,338
Note receivable related to sale of property	0	9,000	0
Issuance of common units associated with exchange of exchangeable senior debentures	0	0	261,166
Assumption of capital lease obligations upon acquisition	118,923	63,692	0
Allocation of purchase price of real estate/investment in partnership to:
Investments in real estate	378,431	99,247	24,305
Accounts receivable	8,537	0	0
Goodwill	448,123	0	0
Acquired below-market leases	(922)	0	0
Acquired in-place lease value and deferred leasing costs	226,877	0	0
Other assets	9,011	0	0
Capital lease obligations	(118,923)	0	0
Accounts payables and other accrued liabilities	(69,084)	0	0
Security deposits and prepaid rents	(8,765)	0	0
Cash paid for acquisition of real estate	873,285	99,247	24,305
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income (loss)	431,852	300,226	203,415
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on sale of properties	(169,902)	(94,604)	(15,945)
Non-cash gain on lease termination	(29,205)	0	0
Gain on contribution of investment properties to unconsolidated joint venture	0	0	(95,404)
Gain on sale of investment	0	0	(14,551)
Impairment of investments in real estate	0	0	126,470
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	(17,104)	(15,491)	(13,289)
Change in fair value of contingent consideration	0	(44,276)	(8,093)
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	16,755	14,947	9,684
Write-off of net assets due to early lease terminations	213	75,263	2,692
Gain on settlement of pre-existing relationships with Telx	0	(14,355)	0
Depreciation and amortization of buildings and improvements, tenant improvements and acquired ground leases	518,716	464,694	456,204
Amortization of share-based unearned compensation	17,433	6,360	18,019
Allowance for (recovery of) doubtful accounts	1,602	(458)	726
Amortization of deferred financing costs	9,908	8,481	8,969
Write-off of deferred financing costs, included in loss on early extinguishment of debt	1,011	148	780
Amortization of debt discount/premium	2,616	2,032	1,837
Amortization of acquired in-place lease value and deferred leasing costs	180,608	105,833	82,310
Amortization of acquired above-market leases and acquired below-market leases	(8,351)	(9,336)	(9,983)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of impact of Telx and European Portfolio Acquisitions
Restricted cash	1,020	2,392	13,523
Accounts and other receivables	(13,754)	(10,127)	(11,426)
Deferred rent	(24,401)	(48,404)	(77,483)
Deferred leasing costs	60	(11,688)	(32,068)
Other assets	(69,924)	(2,928)	(11,675)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	38,432	37,478	24,775
Security deposits and prepaid rents	24,677	33,045	(3,599)
Net cash provided by operating activities	912,262	799,232	655,888
Cash flows from investing activities:
Telx Acquisition, net of cash acquired	0	(1,850,061)	0
Acquisitions of real estate, net of cash acquired	(873,285)	(99,247)	(24,305)
Proceeds from sale of assets, net of sales costs	359,319	185,565	37,945
Proceeds from contribution of investment properties to unconsolidated joint venture	0	0	178,933
Proceeds from sale of investment	0	0	31,635
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	0	(10,797)	(20,627)
Receipt of value added tax refund	11,624	17,570	18,992
Refundable value added tax paid	(43,719)	(30,322)	(29,585)
Change in restricted cash	4,166	1,479	14,899
Improvements to and advances for investments in real estate	(758,081)	(737,180)	(852,386)
Improvement advances to tenants	(16,239)	(40,553)	(20,059)
Collection of advances from tenants for improvements	16,784	37,524	20,378
Net cash used in investing activities	(1,299,431)	(2,526,022)	(644,180)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	2,533,507	2,436,032	1,124,608
Repayments on revolving credit facility	(3,283,087)	(1,958,025)	(1,297,785)
Borrowings on unsecured term loan	766,201	0	0
Repayments on unsecured term loan	(170,736)	0	0
Principal payments on unsecured notes	0	(374,927)	0
Borrowings on unsecured senior notes	675,591	1,445,127	495,872
Repayments on other secured loans	(25,000)	(67,000)	0
Principal payments on mortgage loans	(299,826)	(75,492)	(177,882)
Earnout payments related to acquisitions	(23,213)	(12,985)	(11,011)
Change in restricted cash	1,314	(1,502)	510
Payment of loan fees and costs	(19,574)	(13,488)	(4,860)
Capital distributions to from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures	(527)	(493)	(643)
General partner contributions	802,671	919,840	353,376
Payment of distributions to preferred stockholders/unitholders	(83,771)	(79,423)	(67,465)
Payment of distributions to common stockholders/unitholders	(521,619)	(468,635)	(441,694)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities	351,931	1,749,029	(26,974)
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	(35,238)	22,239	(15,266)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash	(11,287)	0	0
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	57,053	34,814	50,080
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	10,528	57,053	34,814
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized	216,713	180,141	180,456
Cash paid for income taxes	3,698	3,122	3,099
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in net assets related to foreign currency translation adjustments	(86,621)	(51,745)	(52,373)
Accrual of dividends and distributions	144,194	126,925	115,019
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	41,998	(3,407)	(7,936)
Accrual for additions to investments in real estate and tenant improvement advances included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	128,531	109,394	153,080
Accrual for potential earnout contingency	0	19,364	12,338
Note receivable related to sale of property	0	9,000	0
Issuance of common units associated with exchange of exchangeable senior debentures	0	261,166	0
Assumption of capital lease obligations upon acquisition	118,923	63,692	0
Allocation of purchase price of real estate/investment in partnership to:
Investments in real estate	378,431	99,247	24,305
Accounts receivable	8,537	0	0
Goodwill	448,123	0	0
Acquired below-market leases	(922)	0	0
Acquired in-place lease value and deferred leasing costs	226,877	0	0
Other assets	9,011	0	0
Capital lease obligations	(118,923)	0	0
Accounts payables and other accrued liabilities	(69,084)	0	0
Security deposits and prepaid rents	(8,765)	0	0
Cash paid for acquisition of real estate	$ 873,285	$ 99,247	$ 24,305