Condensed Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 198,254	$ 164,134
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
(Gain) loss on sale of properties	(53,465)	142
Unrealized gain on equity investment	(3,136)	0
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	(14,848)	(13,712)
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	10,422	21,376
Write-off of net assets due to early lease terminations	583	24
Depreciation and amortization of buildings and improvements, tenant improvements and acquired ground leases	378,734	264,125
Amortization of acquired in-place lease value and deferred leasing costs	214,843	90,452
Amortization of share-based compensation	14,828	10,125
Non-cash amortization of terminated swaps	558	602
Allowance for (recovery of) doubtful accounts	2,120	(2,555)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	6,013	4,956
Amortization of debt discount/premium	1,711	1,363
Amortization of acquired above-market leases and acquired below-market leases, net	13,452	(3,978)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts and other receivables	(9,312)	(23,711)
Deferred rent	(18,955)	(6,198)
Deferred leasing costs	(11,946)	(8,143)
Other assets	2,959	(5,357)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(50,252)	17,083
Security deposits and prepaid rents	(9,475)	8,584
Net cash provided by operating activities	673,088	519,312
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of real estate	(76,286)	(34,829)
Proceeds from sale of properties, net of sales costs	195,385	0
Excess proceeds from forward contracts	0	51,308
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	(348)	(5,749)
Prepaid construction costs and other investments	(27,869)	0
Improvements to investments in real estate	(613,841)	(476,070)
Improvement advances to tenants	(25,054)	(19,929)
Collection of improvement advances to tenants	22,433	21,805
Net cash used in investing activities	(525,580)	(463,464)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on global revolving credit facility	773,811	1,141,370
Repayments on global revolving credit facility	(853,697)	(801,837)
Repayments on unsecured term loan	(21,376)	0
Borrowings on unsecured senior notes	649,038	140,463
Repayments on unsecured notes	0	(50,000)
Principal payments on mortgage loans	(290)	(268)
Payment of loan fees and costs	(6,461)	(777)
Capital contributions from (distributions paid to) noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net	62	(262)
Taxes paid related to net settlement of stock-based compensation awards	(4,718)	0
Proceeds from common and preferred stock offerings, net	(652)	211,887
Redemption of preferred stock	0	(182,500)
Proceeds from equity plans	2,509	2,606
Proceeds from forward swap contract	1,560	0
Payment of dividends/distributions to preferred stockholders/unitholders	(40,658)	(31,898)
Payment of dividends/distributions to common stockholders/unitholders and distributions to noncontrolling interests in operating partnership	(632,967)	(448,219)
Net cash used in financing activities	(133,839)	(19,435)
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	13,669	36,413
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	182	(17,135)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	13,181	22,036
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	27,032	41,314
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized	146,650	114,352
Cash paid for income taxes	5,510	5,364
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in net assets related to foreign currency translation adjustments	(10,976)	30,255
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps and foreign currency hedges	13,411	(6,692)
Acquisition measurement period adjustment to goodwill and accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	0	2,162
Noncontrolling interests in operating partnership converted to shares of common stock	35,827	6,429
Accrual for additions to investments in real estate and tenant improvement advances included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	202,377	141,590
Addition to leasehold improvements pursuant to capital lease obligation	73,873	0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	198,254	164,134
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
(Gain) loss on sale of properties	(53,465)	142
Unrealized gain on equity investment	(3,136)	0
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	(14,848)	(13,712)
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	10,422	21,376
Write-off of net assets due to early lease terminations	583	24
Depreciation and amortization of buildings and improvements, tenant improvements and acquired ground leases	378,734	264,125
Amortization of acquired in-place lease value and deferred leasing costs	214,843	90,452
Amortization of share-based compensation	14,828	10,125
Non-cash amortization of terminated swaps	558	602
Allowance for (recovery of) doubtful accounts	2,120	(2,555)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	6,013	4,956
Amortization of debt discount/premium	1,711	1,363
Amortization of acquired above-market leases and acquired below-market leases, net	13,452	(3,978)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts and other receivables	(9,312)	(23,711)
Deferred rent	(18,955)	(6,198)
Deferred leasing costs	(11,946)	(8,143)
Other assets	2,959	(5,357)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(50,252)	17,083
Security deposits and prepaid rents	(9,475)	8,584
Net cash provided by operating activities	673,088	519,312
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of real estate	(76,286)	(34,829)
Proceeds from sale of properties, net of sales costs	195,385	0
Excess proceeds from forward contracts	0	51,308
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures	(348)	(5,749)
Prepaid construction costs and other investments	(27,869)	0
Improvements to investments in real estate	(613,841)	(476,070)
Improvement advances to tenants	(25,054)	(19,929)
Collection of improvement advances to tenants	22,433	21,805
Net cash used in investing activities	(525,580)	(463,464)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on global revolving credit facility	773,811	1,141,370
Repayments on global revolving credit facility	(853,697)	(801,837)
Repayments on unsecured term loan	(21,376)	0
Borrowings on unsecured senior notes	649,038	140,463
Repayments on unsecured notes	0	(50,000)
Principal payments on mortgage loans	(290)	(268)
Payment of loan fees and costs	(6,461)	(777)
Capital contributions from (distributions paid to) noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net	62	(262)
Taxes paid related to net settlement of stock-based compensation awards	(4,718)	0
General partner contributions, net	1,857	31,993
Proceeds from forward swap contract	1,560	0
Payment of dividends/distributions to preferred stockholders/unitholders	(40,658)	(31,898)
Payment of dividends/distributions to common stockholders/unitholders and distributions to noncontrolling interests in operating partnership	(632,967)	(448,219)
Net cash used in financing activities	(133,839)	(19,435)
Net increase in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	13,669	36,413
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash	182	(17,135)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period	13,181	22,036
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	27,032	41,314
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized	146,650	114,352
Cash paid for income taxes	5,510	5,364
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in net assets related to foreign currency translation adjustments	(10,976)	30,255
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps and foreign currency hedges	13,411	(6,692)
Acquisition measurement period adjustment to goodwill and accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	0	2,162
Accrual for additions to investments in real estate and tenant improvement advances included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	202,377	141,590
Addition to leasehold improvements pursuant to capital lease obligation	$ 73,873	$ 0