Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Schedule of Distributions) (Details) - Digital Realty Trust, L.P. $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2018 USD ($) $ / shares
Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	$ 9,999
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit) | $ / shares	$ 1.65625
Potentially dilutive Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	$ 11,016
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit) | $ / shares	$ 1.46875
Potentially dilutive Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	$ 20,190
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	$ 11,907
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	$ 7,875
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	$ 650,567
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 | Potentially dilutive Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,672
March 1, 2018 Installment | Potentially dilutive Series H Cumulative Redeemable 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 | Potentially dilutive Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,672
May 8, 2018 Installment | Potentially dilutive Series H Cumulative Redeemable 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
August 11, 2018 Installment | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,333
August 11, 2018 Installment | Potentially dilutive Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,672
August 11, 2018 Installment | Potentially dilutive Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	6,730
August 11, 2018 Installment | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,969
August 11, 2018 Installment | Series J Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	2,625
August 11, 2018 Installment | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units	$ 216,825