Quarterly Financial Information (Digital Realty Trust, Inc.) (unaudited) (Summary Of Selected Quarterly Financial Data) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Sep. 30, 2016	Jun. 30, 2016	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Quarterly Financial Information Disclosure [Abstract]
Total operating revenues	$ 731,445	$ 609,925	$ 565,989	$ 550,569	$ 576,787	$ 546,293	$ 514,934	$ 504,199	$ 2,457,928	$ 2,142,213	$ 1,763,336
Net income	79,658	12,475	79,571	84,563	96,140	222,435	50,944	62,333	256,267	431,852	301,591
Net income attributable to Digital Realty Trust, Inc.	73,635	12,435	78,651	83,538	95,075	219,188	50,375	61,549	248,259	426,187	296,689
Preferred stock dividends and issuance costs associated with redeemed preferred stock	20,329	16,575	20,814	17,393	17,393	31,858	22,424	22,424	68,802	83,771	79,423
Net income available to common stockholders/unitholders	$ 53,306	$ (4,140)	$ 57,837	$ 66,145	$ 77,682	$ 187,330	$ 27,951	$ 39,125	$ 173,148	$ 332,088	$ 217,266
Basic net income (loss) per share available to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.26	$ (0.02)	$ 0.36	$ 0.42	$ 0.49	$ 1.27	$ 0.19	$ 0.27	$ 0.99	$ 2.21	$ 1.57
Diluted net income (loss) per share available to common stockholders (in dollars per share)	$ 0.26	$ (0.02)	$ 0.36	$ 0.41	$ 0.49	$ 1.25	$ 0.19	$ 0.27	$ 0.99	$ 2.20	$ 1.56