Consolidated Balance Sheets - USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Properties:
Land	$ 1,136,341,000	$ 746,822,000
Acquired ground leases	11,150,000	11,335,000
Buildings and improvements	15,215,405,000	10,267,525,000
Tenant improvements	553,040,000	532,787,000
Total investments in properties	16,915,936,000	11,558,469,000
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(3,238,227,000)	(2,668,509,000)
Net investments in properties	13,677,709,000	8,889,960,000
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	163,477,000	106,402,000
Net investments in real estate	13,841,186,000	8,996,362,000
Cash and cash equivalents	51,000	10,528,000
Accounts and other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $6,737 and $7,446 as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	276,347,000	203,938,000
Deferred rent	430,026,000	412,269,000
Acquired above-market leases, net of accumulated amortization of $110,139 and $87,961 as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	184,375,000	22,181,000
Goodwill	3,389,595,000	752,970,000
Acquired in-place lease value, deferred leasing costs and intangibles, net of accumulated amortization of $1,016,989 and $772,443 as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	2,998,806,000	1,522,378,000
Restricted cash	13,130,000	11,508,000
Assets held for sale	139,538,000	56,097,000
Other assets	131,291,000	204,354,000
Total assets	21,404,345,000	12,192,585,000
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Unsecured senior notes, net of discount	6,570,757,000	4,153,797,000
Mortgage loans, including premiums	106,582,000	3,240,000
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	980,218,000	824,878,000
Accrued dividends and distributions	199,761,000	144,194,000
Acquired below-market leases, net of accumulated amortization of $219,654 and $202,000 as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	249,465,000	81,899,000
Security deposits and prepaid rents	217,898,000	168,111,000
Obligations associated with assets held for sale	5,033,000	2,599,000
Total liabilities	10,300,993,000	7,060,288,000
Redeemable noncontrolling interests – operating partnership	53,902,000	0
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ Equity:
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 110,000,000 shares authorized, 50,650,000 and 41,900,000 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	1,249,560,000	1,012,961,000
Common Stock: $0.01 par value, 315,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2017 and 265,000,000 shares authorized as of December 31, 2016; 205,470,300 and 159,019,118 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	2,044,000	1,582,000
Additional paid-in capital	11,261,461,000	5,764,497,000
Accumulated dividends in excess of earnings	(2,055,552,000)	(1,547,420,000)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(108,432,000)	(135,605,000)
Total stockholders’ equity	10,349,081,000	5,096,015,000
Noncontrolling interests:
Noncontrolling interests in operating partnership	698,126,000	29,684,000
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures	2,243,000	6,598,000
Total noncontrolling interests	700,369,000	36,282,000
Total equity	11,049,450,000	5,132,297,000
Total liabilities and equity	21,404,345,000	12,192,585,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Properties:
Land	1,136,341,000	746,822,000
Acquired ground leases	11,150,000	11,335,000
Buildings and improvements	15,215,405,000	10,267,525,000
Tenant improvements	553,040,000	532,787,000
Total investments in properties	16,915,936,000	11,558,469,000
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(3,238,227,000)	(2,668,509,000)
Net investments in properties	13,677,709,000	8,889,960,000
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	163,477,000	106,402,000
Net investments in real estate	13,841,186,000	8,996,362,000
Cash and cash equivalents	51,000	10,528,000
Accounts and other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $6,737 and $7,446 as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	276,347,000	203,938,000
Deferred rent	430,026,000	412,269,000
Acquired above-market leases, net of accumulated amortization of $110,139 and $87,961 as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	184,375,000	22,181,000
Goodwill	3,389,595,000	752,970,000
Acquired in-place lease value, deferred leasing costs and intangibles, net of accumulated amortization of $1,016,989 and $772,443 as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	2,998,806,000	1,522,378,000
Restricted cash	13,130,000	11,508,000
Assets held for sale	139,538,000	56,097,000
Other assets	131,291,000	204,354,000
Total assets	21,404,345,000	12,192,585,000
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Unsecured senior notes, net of discount	6,570,757,000	4,153,797,000
Mortgage loans, including premiums	106,582,000	3,240,000
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	980,218,000	824,878,000
Accrued dividends and distributions	199,761,000	144,194,000
Acquired below-market leases, net of accumulated amortization of $219,654 and $202,000 as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	249,465,000	81,899,000
Security deposits and prepaid rents	217,898,000	168,111,000
Obligations associated with assets held for sale	5,033,000	2,599,000
Total liabilities	10,300,993,000	7,060,288,000
Redeemable noncontrolling interests – operating partnership	53,902,000	0
Commitments and contingencies
Stockholders’ Equity:
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value per share, 110,000,000 shares authorized, 50,650,000 and 41,900,000 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	1,249,560,000	1,012,961,000
Common units: 146,384,247 and 135,626,255 units issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2015 and December 31, 2014, respectively	9,207,953,000	4,218,659,000
Limited Partners, 8,489,095 and 2,475,663 units outstanding as of December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016, respectively	702,579,000	34,698,000
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(112,885,000)	(140,619,000)
Total partners’ capital	11,047,207,000	5,125,699,000
Noncontrolling interests:
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures	2,243,000	6,598,000
Total capital	11,049,450,000	5,132,297,000
Total liabilities and equity	21,404,345,000	12,192,585,000
Global revolving credit facility
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Line of credit	550,946,000	199,209,000
Global revolving credit facility | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Line of credit	550,946,000	199,209,000
Unsecured term loan
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Line of credit	1,420,333,000	1,482,361,000
Unsecured term loan | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY
Line of credit	$ 1,420,333,000	$ 1,482,361,000