Condensed Consolidated Statement of Capital $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) shares	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) shares
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (units) | shares		205,470,300
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units		$ 35,827
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan		2,509
Shares repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting		(4,718)
Amortization of share-based compensation		17,458
Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard	$ 5,915	5,915
Net income	88,159	198,254
Other comprehensive loss—foreign currency translation adjustments	(7,233)	(10,976)
Other comprehensive income—fair value of interest rate swaps and foreign currency hedges	4,795	13,411
Other comprehensive loss—reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense	$ (783)	$ (1,018)
Ending balance (units) | shares	206,055,117	206,055,117
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		$ 11,049,450
Issuance of common units, net of offering costs		(652)
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan		2,509
Shares repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting		(4,718)
Amortization of share-based compensation		17,458
Adjustment to redeemable partnership units		1,097
Distributions		(473,864)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of distributions		62
Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard	$ 5,915	5,915
Net income	88,159	198,254
Other comprehensive loss—foreign currency translation adjustments	(7,233)	(10,976)
Other comprehensive income—fair value of interest rate swaps and foreign currency hedges	4,795	13,411
Other comprehensive loss—reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense	(783)	(1,018)
Ending Balance	10,796,928	10,796,928
Redeemable Limited Partner Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		53,902
Adjustment to redeemable partnership units		(1,097)
Ending Balance	52,805	52,805
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		(112,885)
Other comprehensive loss—foreign currency translation adjustments		(10,976)
Other comprehensive income—fair value of interest rate swaps and foreign currency hedges		13,411
Other comprehensive loss—reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense		(1,018)
Ending Balance	(111,468)	(111,468)
Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Joint Ventures | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		2,243
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of distributions		62
Net income		(16)
Ending Balance	2,289	2,289
General Partner | Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		$ 1,249,560
Beginning balance (units) | shares		50,650,000
Distributions		$ (40,658)
Net income		40,658
Ending Balance	$ 1,249,560	$ 1,249,560
Ending balance (units) | shares	50,650,000	50,650,000
General Partner | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		$ 9,207,953
Beginning balance (units) | shares		205,470,300
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units		$ 35,827
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units) | shares		406,639
Issuance of unvested restricted common units (units) | shares		193,118
Issuance of common units, net of offering costs		$ (652)
Common unit offering costs, net (units) | shares		0
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan		$ 2,509
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan (units) | shares		31,893
Shares repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting		$ (4,718)
Units repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting (units) | shares		(46,833)
Amortization of share-based compensation		$ 17,458
Reclassification of vested share-based awards		(2,847)
Adjustment to redeemable partnership units		1,097
Distributions		(416,086)
Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard	$ 5,915	5,915
Net income		151,432
Ending Balance	$ 8,997,888	$ 8,997,888
Ending balance (units) | shares	206,055,117	206,055,117
Limited Partners | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		$ 702,579
Beginning balance (units) | shares		8,489,095
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units		$ (35,827)
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units) | shares		(406,639)
Issuance of common units, net of forfeitures (units) | shares		415,576
Reclassification of vested share-based awards		$ 2,847
Distributions		(17,120)
Net income		6,180
Ending Balance	$ 658,659	$ 658,659
Ending balance (units) | shares	8,498,032	8,498,032