Derivative Instruments (Outstanding Interest Rate Derivatives) (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($) $ / SGD $ / £ $ / CAD	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($) $ / SGD $ / £ $ / CAD
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan — 5-year
Currently-paying contracts
Debt instrument term	5 years
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loan — 7-year
Currently-paying contracts
Debt instrument term	7 years
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured Term Loans | Singapore dollar (SGD)
Currently-paying contracts
Exchange rate | $ / SGD	0.72	0.69
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured Term Loans | British pound sterling (£)
Currently-paying contracts
Exchange rate | $ / £	1.26	1.23
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured Term Loans | Canadian dollar (CAD)
Currently-paying contracts
Exchange rate | $ / CAD	0.75	0.74
Interest Rate Swap, 0.932
Currently-paying contracts
Notional Amount	$ 206,000	$ 206,000
Strike Rate	0.932%
Interest Rate Swap, 0.932 | Level 2
Currently-paying contracts
Fair value of derivatives	$ 1	(90)
Interest Rate Swap, 0.670
Currently-paying contracts
Notional Amount	$ 54,905	54,905
Strike Rate	0.67%
Interest Rate Swap, 0.670 | Level 2
Currently-paying contracts
Fair value of derivatives	$ 1	16
Interest Rate Swap 1.016
Currently-paying contracts
Notional Amount	$ 75,000	75,000
Strike Rate	1.016%
Interest Rate Swap 1.016 | Level 2
Currently-paying contracts
Fair value of derivatives	$ 2,086	1,911
Interest Rate Swap, 1.164
Currently-paying contracts
Notional Amount	$ 75,000	75,000
Strike Rate	1.164%
Interest Rate Swap, 1.164 | Level 2
Currently-paying contracts
Fair value of derivatives	$ 1,688	1,487
Interest Rate Swap, 1.435
Currently-paying contracts
Notional Amount	$ 300,000	300,000
Strike Rate	1.435%
Interest Rate Swap, 1.435 | Level 2
Currently-paying contracts
Fair value of derivatives	$ 9,173	8,128
Interest Rate Swap, 0.925
Currently-paying contracts
Notional Amount	$ 135,663	130,850
Strike Rate	0.925%
Interest Rate Swap, 0.925 | Level 2
Currently-paying contracts
Fair value of derivatives	$ (5)	18
Interest Rate Swap, 0.792
Currently-paying contracts
Notional Amount	$ 212,691	209,132
Strike Rate	0.792%
Interest Rate Swap, 0.792 | Level 2
Currently-paying contracts
Fair value of derivatives	$ (1,550)	(1,818)
Interest Rate Swap, 0.779
Currently-paying contracts
Notional Amount	$ 73,964	73,294
Strike Rate	0.779%
Interest Rate Swap, 0.779 | Level 2
Currently-paying contracts
Fair value of derivatives	$ 1,414	1,556
Interest Rate Swap
Currently-paying contracts
Notional Amount	1,133,223	1,124,181
Interest Rate Swap | Level 2
Currently-paying contracts
Fair value of derivatives	12,808	11,208
Forward-starting Swap, 1.611
Currently-paying contracts
Notional Amount	$ 206,000	0
Strike Rate	1.611%
Forward-starting Swap, 1.611 | Level 2
Currently-paying contracts
Fair value of derivatives	$ 318	0
Forward-starting Swap, 1.605
Currently-paying contracts
Notional Amount	$ 54,905	0
Strike Rate	1.605%
Forward-starting Swap, 1.605 | Level 2
Currently-paying contracts
Fair value of derivatives	$ 77	0
Forward Interest Rate Swap
Currently-paying contracts
Notional Amount	260,905	0
Forward Interest Rate Swap | Level 2
Currently-paying contracts
Fair value of derivatives	$ 395	$ 0