Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Schedule of Distributions) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands									12 Months Ended
	Sep. 14, 2017	Aug. 07, 2017	Apr. 05, 2017	Sep. 15, 2016	Aug. 24, 2015	Mar. 26, 2014	Apr. 09, 2013	Apr. 05, 2012	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per unit)									$ 25.00
Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Annual rate of dividend per share (in dollars per unit)	$ 1.65625
Series C Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									$ 3,963	$ 0	$ 0
Annual rate of dividend per share (in dollars per unit)									$ 1.656
Series C Preferred Units | February 25, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											0
Series C Preferred Units | May 12, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											0
Series C Preferred Units | August 11, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											0
Series C Preferred Units | November 12, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											0
Series C Preferred Units | February 17, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										0
Series C Preferred Units | May 11, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										0
Series C Preferred Units | August 10, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										0
Series C Preferred Units | November 9, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										0
Series C Preferred Units | March 1, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									$ 0
Series C Preferred Units | May 8, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									0
Series C Preferred Units | August 7, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									0
Series C Preferred Units | November 2, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									3,963
Series E Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									$ 0	10,062	20,124
Annual rate of dividend per share (in dollars per unit)									$ 1.75
Series E Preferred Units | February 25, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											5,031
Series E Preferred Units | May 12, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											5,031
Series E Preferred Units | August 11, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											5,031
Series E Preferred Units | November 12, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											5,031
Series E Preferred Units | February 17, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										5,031
Series E Preferred Units | May 11, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										5,031
Series E Preferred Units | August 10, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										0
Series E Preferred Units | November 9, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										0
Series E Preferred Units | March 1, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									$ 0
Series E Preferred Units | May 8, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									0
Series E Preferred Units | August 7, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									0
Series E Preferred Units | November 2, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									0
Series F Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Annual rate of dividend per share (in dollars per unit)								$ 1.65625
Preferred stock, redemption price per share (in dollars per unit)			$ 25.01840
Accrued and unpaid dividends up to but not including the redemption date			$ 100
Redemption premium			$ 6,300
Series F Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									$ 3,023	12,092	12,092
Annual rate of dividend per share (in dollars per unit)									$ 1.65625
Series F Preferred Units | February 25, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											3,023
Series F Preferred Units | May 12, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											3,023
Series F Preferred Units | August 11, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											3,023
Series F Preferred Units | November 12, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											3,023
Series F Preferred Units | February 17, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										3,023
Series F Preferred Units | May 11, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										3,023
Series F Preferred Units | August 10, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										3,023
Series F Preferred Units | November 9, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										3,023
Series F Preferred Units | March 1, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									$ 3,023
Series F Preferred Units | May 8, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									0
Series F Preferred Units | August 7, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									0
Series F Preferred Units | November 2, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									0
Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Annual rate of dividend per share (in dollars per unit)							$ 1.46875
Series G Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									$ 14,688	14,688	14,688
Annual rate of dividend per share (in dollars per unit)									$ 1.46875
Series G Preferred Units | February 25, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											3,672
Series G Preferred Units | May 12, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											3,672
Series G Preferred Units | August 11, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											3,672
Series G Preferred Units | November 12, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											3,672
Series G Preferred Units | February 17, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										3,672
Series G Preferred Units | May 11, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										3,672
Series G Preferred Units | August 10, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										3,672
Series G Preferred Units | November 9, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										3,672
Series G Preferred Units | March 1, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									$ 3,672
Series G Preferred Units | May 8, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									3,672
Series G Preferred Units | August 7, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									3,672
Series G Preferred Units | November 2, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									3,672
Series H Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Annual rate of dividend per share (in dollars per unit)						$ 1.84375
Series H Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									$ 26,920	26,920	26,920
Annual rate of dividend per share (in dollars per unit)									$ 1.84375
Series H Preferred Units | February 25, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											6,730
Series H Preferred Units | May 12, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											6,730
Series H Preferred Units | August 11, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											6,730
Series H Preferred Units | November 12, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											6,730
Series H Preferred Units | February 17, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										6,730
Series H Preferred Units | May 11, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										6,730
Series H Preferred Units | August 10, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										6,730
Series H Preferred Units | November 9, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										6,730
Series H Preferred Units | March 1, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									$ 6,730
Series H Preferred Units | May 8, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									6,730
Series H Preferred Units | August 7, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									6,730
Series H Preferred Units | November 2, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									6,730
Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Annual rate of dividend per share (in dollars per unit)					$ 1.58750
Series I Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									$ 15,876	15,876	5,600
Annual rate of dividend per share (in dollars per unit)									$ 1.588
Series I Preferred Units | February 25, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											0
Series I Preferred Units | May 12, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											0
Series I Preferred Units | August 11, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											0
Series I Preferred Units | November 12, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											5,600
Series I Preferred Units | February 17, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										3,969
Series I Preferred Units | May 11, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										3,969
Series I Preferred Units | August 10, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										3,969
Series I Preferred Units | November 9, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										3,969
Series I Preferred Units | March 1, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									$ 3,969
Series I Preferred Units | May 8, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									3,969
Series I Preferred Units | August 7, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									3,969
Series I Preferred Units | November 2, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									3,969
Series J Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Annual rate of dividend per share (in dollars per unit)		$ 1.31250
Series J Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									$ 4,200	0	0
Annual rate of dividend per share (in dollars per unit)									$ 1.3125
Series J Preferred Units | February 25, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											0
Series J Preferred Units | May 12, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											0
Series J Preferred Units | August 11, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											0
Series J Preferred Units | November 12, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											0
Series J Preferred Units | February 17, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										0
Series J Preferred Units | May 11, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										0
Series J Preferred Units | August 10, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										0
Series J Preferred Units | November 9, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										0
Series J Preferred Units | March 1, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									$ 0
Series J Preferred Units | May 8, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									0
Series J Preferred Units | August 7, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									0
Series J Preferred Units | November 2, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									4,200
Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units									$ 702,254	$ 539,044	$ 480,623
Common stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share)									$ 3.720	$ 3.520	$ 3.400
Common Units | February 25, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units											$ 117,896
Common Units | May 12, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units											117,938
Common Units | August 11, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units											117,962
Common Units | November 12, 2015 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units											126,827
Common Units | February 17, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units										$ 131,587
Common Units | May 11, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units										131,607
Common Units | August 10, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units										131,657
Common Units | November 9, 2016 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units										144,193
Common Units | March 1, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units									$ 150,968
Common Units | May 8, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units									153,176
Common Units | August 7, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units									199,049
Common Units | November 2, 2017 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units									199,061
Series E Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									$ 0	10,062	20,124
Annual rate of dividend per share (in dollars per unit)									$ 1.75
Preferred stock, redemption price per share (in dollars per unit)				$ 25.35972
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per unit)				$ 25.00
Accrued and unpaid dividends up to but not including the redemption date				$ 4,100
Redemption premium				$ 10,300
Series E Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock, redemption price per share (in dollars per unit)				$ 25.35972
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per unit)				$ 25.00
Accrued and unpaid dividends up to but not including the redemption date				$ 4,100
Redemption premium				$ 10,300
Series E Preferred Units | February 25, 2015
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											5,031
Series E Preferred Units | May 12, 2015
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											5,031
Series E Preferred Units | August 11, 2015
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											5,031
Series E Preferred Units | November 12, 2015
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units											$ 5,031
Series E Preferred Units | February 17, 2016
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										5,031
Series E Preferred Units | May 11, 2016
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										5,031
Series E Preferred Units | August 10, 2016
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										0
Series E Preferred Units | November 9, 2016
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units										$ 0
Series E Preferred Units | March 1, 2017
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									$ 0
Series E Preferred Units | May 8, 2017
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									0
Series E Preferred Units | August 7, 2017
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									0
Series E Preferred Units | November 2, 2017
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred stock/units									$ 0