Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (6.350% Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units Narrative) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands							12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2015	Oct. 08, 2015	Aug. 24, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014	Apr. 07, 2014	Mar. 26, 2014	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015	Dec. 31, 2014	Oct. 13, 2015
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Gross proceeds from the issuance of preferred stock							$ 0	$ 250,000	$ 365,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Intercompany loans, stated interest rate			4.50%
Intercompany loans, extinguishment of debt		$ 244,100
Series H Preferred Stock and Unit
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Annual rate of dividend per share (in dollars per unit)						$ 1.84375	$ 1.84375
Preferred stock, dividend rate						7.375%	7.375%	7.375%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 25					$ 25	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock dividends per share declared (in dollars per share)				$ 0.48655
Preferred stock, redemption price per share (in dollars per unit)							$ 25.00
Series H Preferred Stock and Unit | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Class of Stock [Line Items]
Preferred units, issued (in units)	14,600,000				14,600,000		14,600,000	14,600,000
Annual rate of dividend per share (in dollars per unit)					$ 1.84375		$ 1.844
Preferred stock, dividend rate					7.375%		7.375%	7.375%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 25				$ 25		$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock dividends per share declared (in dollars per share)				$ 0.48655
Preferred stock, redemption price per share (in dollars per unit)							25.00
Series I Preferred Stock and Unit
Class of Stock [Line Items]
New issues of stock during period (in shares/units)			10,000,000
Gross proceeds from the issuance of preferred stock			$ 242,000
Annual rate of dividend per share (in dollars per unit)							$ 1.588
Preferred stock, dividend rate			6.35%				6.35%	6.35%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per unit)	25		$ 25.00				$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock dividends per share declared (in dollars per share)	$ 0.56003		$ 1.5875
Preferred stock, redemption price per share (in dollars per unit)							$ 25.00
Series I Preferred Stock and Unit | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Class of Stock [Line Items]
New issues of stock during period (in shares/units)			10,000,000
Gross proceeds from the issuance of preferred stock			$ 242,000
Intercompany loans, amount borrowed			$ 242,700
Preferred units, issued (in units)	10,000,000						10,000,000	10,000,000		10,000,000
Annual rate of dividend per share (in dollars per unit)			$ 1.5875				$ 1.588
Preferred stock, dividend rate			6.35%				6.35%	6.35%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per unit)	$ 25		$ 25.00				$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock dividends per share declared (in dollars per share)	$ 0.56003