Debt Instrument, Extension Length

No definition available.

Name:	dlr_DebtInstrumentExtensionLength
Namespace Prefix:	dlr_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number Of Extension Options

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dlr_NumberOfExtensionOptions
Namespace Prefix:	dlr_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for available but unused credit capacity under the credit facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityUnusedCapacityCommitmentFeePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=dlr_DigitalRealtyTrustLPMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=dlr_GlobalRevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dlr_LineOfCreditFeaturesAxis=dlr_AccordianFeatureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=dlr_YenRevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Debt of the Operating Partnership (Global Revolving Credit Facilities) (Narrative) (Details) - Digital Realty Trust, L.P.	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($) extension	Oct. 24, 2018 USD ($)	Oct. 24, 2018 JPY (¥)	Jan. 15, 2016 USD ($)
Global revolving credit facilities
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity		$ 2,350,000,000.00		$ 2,000,000,000.0
Number of extension options \| extension	2
Debt extension	6 months
Basis spread on variable rate	0.90%
Commitment fee percentage	0.20%
Letters of credit	$ 44,500,000
Global revolving credit facilities \| Accordian Feature
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 1,250,000,000.00
Yen Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity		296,500,000	¥ 33,300,000,000.0
Basis spread on variable rate	0.50%
Commitment fee percentage	0.10%
Yen Revolving Credit Facility \| Accordian Feature
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity		$ 831,100,000	¥ 93,300,000,000.0