Condensed Consolidated Statement of Capital - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (units)		205,470,300
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units		$ 49,696
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan		5,874
Shares repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting		(4,952)
Amortization of share-based compensation		25,213
Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard			$ 5,915
Net income	$ 90,264	288,518
Other comprehensive loss—foreign currency translation adjustments	2,368	(8,608)
Other comprehensive income—fair value of interest rate swaps	2,925	16,336
Other comprehensive loss—reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense	$ (1,271)	$ (2,289)
Ending balance (units)	206,267,055	206,267,055
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		(1,292)
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan		5,874
Shares repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting		(4,952)
Amortization of share-based compensation		25,213
Adjustment to redeemable partnership units		36,349
Distributions		(710,797)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of distributions		63,745
Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard			5,915
Net income	$ 90,264	288,518
Other comprehensive loss—foreign currency translation adjustments	2,368	(8,608)
Other comprehensive income—fair value of interest rate swaps	2,925	16,336
Other comprehensive loss—reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense	(1,271)	(2,289)
Ending Balance	10,763,462	10,763,462
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		(36,349)
Ending Balance	17,553	17,553
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		(8,608)
Other comprehensive income—fair value of interest rate swaps		16,336
Other comprehensive loss—reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense		(2,289)
Ending Balance	(107,446)	(107,446)
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		63,745
Net income		(49)
Ending Balance	65,939	65,939
General Partner | Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		$ 1,249,560
Beginning balance (units)		50,650,000
Distributions		$ (60,987)
Net income		60,987
Ending Balance	$ 1,249,560	$ 1,249,560
Ending balance (units)	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)		205,470,300
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units		$ 49,696
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)		567,792
Issuance of unvested restricted common units (units)		206,264
Issuance of common units, net of offering costs		$ (1,292)
Common unit offering costs, net (units)		0
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan		$ 5,874
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan (units)		69,532
Shares repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting		$ (4,952)
Units repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting (units)		(46,833)
Amortization of share-based compensation		$ 25,213
Reclassification of vested share-based awards		(3,631)
Adjustment to redeemable partnership units		671
Distributions		(624,252)
Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard			$ 5,915
Net income		218,700
Ending Balance	$ 8,879,895	$ 8,879,895
Ending balance (units)	206,267,055	206,267,055
Limited Partners | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		$ 702,579
Beginning balance (units)		8,489,095
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units		$ (49,696)
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)		(567,792)
Issuance of common units, net of forfeitures (units)		419,284
Reclassification of vested share-based awards		$ 3,631
Adjustment to redeemable partnership units		35,678
Distributions		(25,558)
Net income		8,880
Ending Balance	$ 675,514	$ 675,514
Ending balance (units)	8,340,587	8,340,587