Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Schedule of Distributions) (Details) - Digital Realty Trust, L.P. $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) $ / shares
Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	$ 6,666
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit) | $ / shares	$ 1.65625
Series G Preferred Unite
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	$ 7,344
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit) | $ / shares	$ 1.46875
Series H Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	$ 13,460
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit) | $ / shares	$ 1.84375
Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	$ 7,938
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit) | $ / shares	$ 1.5875
Series J Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	$ 5,250
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit) | $ / shares	$ 1.3125
Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units	$ 433,742
Common stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit) | $ / shares	$ 4.04
March 1, 2018 Installment | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	$ 3,333
March 1, 2018 Installment | Series G Preferred Unite
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,672
March 1, 2018 Installment | Series H Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	6,730
March 1, 2018 Installment | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,969
March 1, 2018 Installment | Series J Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	2,625
March 1, 2018 Installment | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units	216,953
May 8, 2018 Installment | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,333
May 8, 2018 Installment | Series G Preferred Unite
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,672
May 8, 2018 Installment | Series H Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	6,730
May 8, 2018 Installment | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,969
May 8, 2018 Installment | Series J Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	2,625
May 8, 2018 Installment | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units	$ 216,789