Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (6.625% Series F Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units Narrative) (Details) - Series F Preferred Stock and Unit - $ / shares			12 Months Ended
	Jun. 29, 2012	Apr. 18, 2012	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred stock, dividend rate		6.625%	6.625%	6.625%
Annual rate of dividend per share (in dollars per unit)		$ 1.65625	$ 1.65625
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per unit)		$ 25.00	25	$ 25
Preferred stock, dividends in arrears per share (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.395660
Preferred stock, redemption price per share (in dollars per unit)			$ 25.00
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred units, issued (in units)		7,300,000	7,300,000	7,300,000
Preferred stock, dividend rate		6.625%	6.625%	6.625%
Annual rate of dividend per share (in dollars per unit)		$ 1.65625	$ 1.656
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per unit)		$ 25.00	25	$ 25
Preferred stock, dividends in arrears per share (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.39566
Preferred stock, redemption price per share (in dollars per unit)			$ 25.00