Quarterly Financial Information (Digital Realty Trust, L.P.) (Summary Of Selected Quarterly Financial Data) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Sep. 30, 2017	Jun. 30, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	$ 778,267	$ 768,924	$ 754,919	$ 744,368	$ 731,445	$ 609,925	$ 565,989	$ 550,569	$ 3,046,478	$ 2,457,928	$ 2,142,213
Net income	52,597	90,264	88,159	110,095	79,658	12,475	79,571	84,563	341,115	256,267	431,852
Net income attributable to Digital Realty Trust, L.P.	51,559	87,597	85,463	106,627	73,635	12,435	78,651	83,538	331,246	248,259	426,187
Preferred unit distributions and issuance costs associated with redeemed preferred units	20,329	20,329	20,329	20,329	20,329	16,575	20,814	17,393	81,316	68,802	83,771
Net income available to common stockholders/unitholders	$ 31,230	$ 67,268	$ 65,134	$ 86,298	$ 53,306	$ (4,140)	$ 57,837	$ 66,145	$ 249,930	$ 173,148	$ 332,088
Basic net income (loss) per unit available to common unitholders (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.15	$ 0.33	$ 0.32	$ 0.42	$ 0.26	$ (0.02)	$ 0.36	$ 0.42	$ 1.21	$ 0.99	$ 2.21
Diluted net income (loss) per unit available to common unitholders (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.15	$ 0.33	$ 0.32	$ 0.42	$ 0.26	$ (0.02)	$ 0.36	$ 0.41	$ 1.21	$ 0.99	$ 2.20
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Quarterly Financial Information [Line Items]
Total operating revenues	$ 778,267	$ 768,924	$ 754,919	$ 744,368	$ 731,445	$ 609,925	$ 565,989	$ 550,569	$ 3,046,478	$ 2,457,928	$ 2,142,213
Net income	52,597	90,264	88,159	110,095	79,658	12,475	79,571	84,563	341,115	256,267	431,852
Net income attributable to Digital Realty Trust, L.P.	52,859	90,297	88,163	110,107	75,773	12,356	79,458	84,442	341,426	252,029	431,485
Preferred unit distributions and issuance costs associated with redeemed preferred units	20,329	20,329	20,329	20,329	20,329	16,575	20,814	17,393	81,316	68,802	83,771
Net income available to common stockholders/unitholders	$ 32,530	$ 69,968	$ 67,834	$ 89,778	$ 55,444	$ (4,219)	$ 58,644	$ 67,049	$ 260,110	$ 176,918	$ 337,386
Basic net income (loss) per unit available to common unitholders (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.15	$ 0.33	$ 0.32	$ 0.42	$ 0.26	$ (0.02)	$ 0.36	$ 0.42	$ 1.21	$ 0.99	$ 2.21
Diluted net income (loss) per unit available to common unitholders (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.15	$ 0.33	$ 0.32	$ 0.42	$ 0.26	$ (0.02)	$ 0.36	$ 0.41	$ 1.21	$ 0.99	$ 2.20