CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 52,597	$ 79,658	$ 341,115	$ 256,267	$ 431,852
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on sale of properties			(80,049)	(40,354)	(169,902)
Gain on lease termination			0	0	(29,205)
Unrealized gain on marketable equity security			(1,631)	0	0
Impairment of investments in real estate			0	28,992	0
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures			(32,979)	(25,516)	(17,104)
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures			21,905	31,747	16,755
Write-off of net assets due to early lease terminations			2,818	3,076	213
Depreciation and amortization of buildings and improvements, tenant improvements and acquired ground leases			770,275	594,996	518,716
Amortization of acquired in-place lease value, deferred leasing costs and intangibles			416,621	247,468	180,608
Amortization of share-based unearned compensation			27,159	20,521	17,433
Non-cash amortization of terminated interest rate swaps			1,120	1,204	0
Allowance for (recovery of) doubtful accounts			6,304	(776)	1,602
Amortization of deferred financing costs			11,537	10,634	9,908
Loss (gain) on early extinguishment of debt			1,568	(1,990)	1,011
Amortization of debt discount/premium			3,538	2,992	2,616
Amortization of acquired above-market leases and acquired below-market leases, net			26,530	1,770	(8,351)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of impact of business combinations
Accounts and other receivables			(21,318)	(73,717)	(13,754)
Deferred rent			(39,905)	(16,564)	(24,401)
Deferred leasing costs			(72,104)	(15,363)	60
Other assets			(9,145)	(1,800)	(69,924)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities			39,192	(16,384)	38,432
Security deposits and prepaid rents			(27,227)	16,102	24,677
Net cash provided by operating activities			1,385,324	1,023,305	911,242
Cash flows from investing activities:
Improvements to and advances for investments in real estate			(1,325,162)	(1,150,619)	(758,081)
Ascenty acquisition			(1,679,830)	0	0
Cash assumed in business combinations			116,000	20,650	0
Acquisitions of real estate, net of cash acquired			(410,712)	(415,764)	(873,285)
Proceeds from sale of assets, net of sales costs			286,204	89,333	359,319
Distribution of debt proceeds from closing of joint venture			0	135,793	0
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures			(673)	(93,405)	0
Excess proceeds from forward contract settlement			0	63,956	0
Prepaid construction costs and other investments			(13,254)	0	(32,095)
Improvement advances to tenants			(48,502)	(50,857)	(16,239)
Collection of advances from tenants for improvements			39,936	43,760	16,784
Net cash used in investing activities			(3,035,993)	(1,357,153)	(1,303,597)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on global revolving credit facility			3,046,245	2,180,556	2,533,507
Repayments on global revolving credit facility			(1,945,594)	(2,304,686)	(3,283,087)
Borrowings on unsecured term loans			467,922	0	766,201
Repayments on unsecured term loans			(674,332)	(371,520)	(170,736)
Borrowings on unsecured senior notes			1,169,006	2,265,060	675,591
Principal payments on unsecured senior notes			0	(884,841)	0
Borrowings on secured debt			600,000	104,000	0
Principal payments on secured debt			(594)	(105,546)	(299,826)
Repayments on other secured loans			0	(50,000)	(25,000)
Earnout payments related to acquisitions			0	0	(23,213)
Payment of loan fees and costs			(44,299)	(16,830)	(19,574)
Capital contributions from (distributions to) noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net			66,124	(8,593)	(527)
Taxes paid related to net settlement of stock-based compensation awards			(5,055)	0	0
Proceeds from common and preferred stock offerings, net			1,194	405,437	1,085,442
Proceeds from equity plans			5,874	5,872	4,729
Redemption of preferred stock			0	(182,500)	(287,500)
Proceeds from forward swap contract			1,560	0	0
Payment of dividends to preferred stockholders/unitholders			(81,316)	(68,802)	(83,771)
Payment of distributions to common stockholders/unitholders			(849,466)	(646,407)	(521,619)
Net cash provided by financing activities			1,757,269	321,200	350,617
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash			106,600	(12,648)	(41,738)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash			15,441	3,793	(11,288)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year			13,181	22,036	75,062
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year	135,222	13,181	135,222	13,181	22,036
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized			288,643	211,549	216,713
Cash paid for income taxes			11,224	9,456	3,698
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in net assets related to foreign currency translation adjustments			(11,736)	28,709	(86,621)
Accrual of dividends and distributions			217,241	199,761	144,194
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps			8,197	(3,434)	41,998
Noncontrolling interests in operating partnership redeemed for or converted to shares of common stock			62,004	10,009	5,242
Accrual for additions to investments in real estate and tenant improvement advances included in accounts payable and accrued expenses			189,508	149,548	128,531
Assumption of capital lease obligations upon acquisition			75,030	0	118,923
Non-cash derecognition of capital lease obligation			17,294	0	0
Allocation of purchase price of real estate/investment in partnership to:
Investments in real estate			410,712	366,105	378,431
Accounts receivable			0	0	8,537
Goodwill			0	0	448,123
Acquired above-market leases			0	21,043	0
Acquired in-place lease value and deferred leasing costs			0	30,111	226,877
Other assets			0	0	9,011
Capital lease obligations			0	0	(118,923)
Acquired below-market leases			0	(1,495)	(922)
Accounts payables and other accrued liabilities			0	0	(69,084)
Security deposits and prepaid rents			0	0	(8,765)
Cash paid for acquisition of real estate			410,712	415,764	873,285
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Land	356,704	87,610	356,704	87,610
Goodwill	4,348,007	3,389,595	4,348,007	3,389,595
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures	(93,056)	(2,243)	(93,056)	(2,243)
Issuance of preferred stock in connection with merger			(1,194)	(211,897)	(1,085,444)
Acquisitions Through December 31, 2018
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Cash and cash equivalents	116,000	20,650	116,000	20,650
Land	0	312,579	0	312,579
Buildings and improvements	425,000	3,677,497	425,000	3,677,497
Accounts receivables and other assets	30,000	10,978	30,000	10,978
Tenant relationship and acquired in-place lease value	495,000	1,582,385	495,000	1,582,385
Goodwill	982,667	2,592,181	982,667	2,592,181
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(90,000)	(248,259)	(90,000)	(248,259)
Acquired below-market leases	0	(185,543)	0	(185,543)
Other working capital, net	0	(22,640)	0	(22,640)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests -- operating partnership	0	(66,259)	0	(66,259)
Noncontrolling interests in operating partnership			(253,837)	(676,566)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures	(25,000)	0	(25,000)	0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	52,597	79,658	341,115	256,267	431,852
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on sale of properties			(80,049)	(40,354)	(169,902)
Gain on lease termination			0	0	(29,205)
Unrealized gain on marketable equity security			(1,631)	0	0
Impairment of investments in real estate			0	28,992	0
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures			(32,979)	(25,516)	(17,104)
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures			21,905	31,747	16,755
Write-off of net assets due to early lease terminations			2,818	3,076	213
Depreciation and amortization of buildings and improvements, tenant improvements and acquired ground leases			770,275	594,996	518,716
Amortization of acquired in-place lease value, deferred leasing costs and intangibles			416,621	247,468	180,608
Amortization of share-based unearned compensation			27,159	20,521	17,433
Non-cash amortization of terminated interest rate swaps			1,120	1,204	0
Allowance for (recovery of) doubtful accounts			6,304	(776)	1,602
Amortization of deferred financing costs			11,537	10,634	9,908
Loss (gain) on early extinguishment of debt			1,568	(1,990)	1,011
Amortization of debt discount/premium			3,538	2,992	2,616
Amortization of acquired above-market leases and acquired below-market leases, net			26,530	1,770	(8,351)
Changes in assets and liabilities, net of impact of business combinations
Accounts and other receivables			(21,318)	(73,717)	(13,754)
Deferred rent			(39,905)	(16,564)	(24,401)
Deferred leasing costs			(72,104)	(15,363)	60
Other assets			(9,145)	(1,800)	(69,924)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities			39,192	(16,384)	38,432
Security deposits and prepaid rents			(27,227)	16,102	24,677
Net cash provided by operating activities			1,385,324	1,023,305	911,242
Cash flows from investing activities:
Improvements to and advances for investments in real estate			(1,325,162)	(1,150,619)	(758,081)
Ascenty acquisition			(1,679,830)	0	0
Cash assumed in business combinations			116,000	20,650	0
Acquisitions of real estate, net of cash acquired			(410,712)	(415,764)	(873,285)
Proceeds from sale of assets, net of sales costs			286,204	89,333	359,319
Distribution of debt proceeds from closing of joint venture			0	135,793	0
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures			(673)	(93,405)	0
Excess proceeds from forward contract settlement			0	63,956	0
Prepaid construction costs and other investments			(13,254)	0	(32,095)
Improvement advances to tenants			(48,502)	(50,857)	(16,239)
Collection of advances from tenants for improvements			39,936	43,760	16,784
Net cash used in investing activities			(3,035,993)	(1,357,153)	(1,303,597)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on global revolving credit facility			3,046,245	2,180,556	2,533,507
Repayments on global revolving credit facility			(1,945,594)	(2,304,686)	(3,283,087)
Borrowings on unsecured term loans			467,922	0	766,201
Repayments on unsecured term loans			(674,332)	(371,520)	(170,736)
Borrowings on unsecured senior notes			1,169,006	2,265,060	675,591
Principal payments on unsecured senior notes			0	(884,841)	0
Borrowings on secured debt			600,000	104,000	0
Principal payments on secured debt			(594)	(105,546)	(299,826)
Repayments on other secured loans			0	(50,000)	(25,000)
Earnout payments related to acquisitions			0	0	(23,213)
Payment of loan fees and costs			(44,299)	(16,830)	(19,574)
Capital contributions from (distributions to) noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net			66,124	(8,593)	(527)
Taxes paid related to net settlement of stock-based compensation awards			(5,055)	0	0
General partner contributions			7,068	228,809	802,671
Proceeds from forward swap contract			1,560	0	0
Payment of dividends to preferred stockholders/unitholders			(81,316)	(68,802)	(83,771)
Payment of distributions to common stockholders/unitholders			(849,466)	(646,407)	(521,619)
Net cash provided by financing activities			1,757,269	321,200	350,617
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash			106,600	(12,648)	(41,738)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash			15,441	3,793	(11,288)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year			13,181	22,036	75,062
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year	135,222	13,181	135,222	13,181	22,036
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized			288,643	211,549	216,713
Cash paid for income taxes			11,224	9,456	3,698
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in net assets related to foreign currency translation adjustments			(11,736)	28,709	(86,621)
Accrual of dividends and distributions			217,241	199,761	144,194
Increase (decrease) in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps			8,197	(3,434)	41,998
Accrual for additions to investments in real estate and tenant improvement advances included in accounts payable and accrued expenses			189,508	149,548	128,531
Assumption of capital lease obligations upon acquisition			75,030	0	118,923
Non-cash derecognition of capital lease obligation			17,294	0	0
Allocation of purchase price of real estate/investment in partnership to:
Investments in real estate			410,712	366,105	378,431
Accounts receivable			0	0	8,537
Goodwill			0	0	448,123
Acquired above-market leases			0	21,043	0
Acquired in-place lease value and deferred leasing costs			0	30,111	226,877
Other assets			0	0	9,011
Capital lease obligations			0	0	(118,923)
Acquired below-market leases			0	(1,495)	(922)
Accounts payables and other accrued liabilities			0	0	(69,084)
Security deposits and prepaid rents			0	0	(8,765)
Cash paid for acquisition of real estate			410,712	415,764	873,285
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Goodwill	4,348,007	3,389,595	4,348,007	3,389,595
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures	(93,056)	(2,243)	(93,056)	(2,243)
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Acquisitions Through December 31, 2018
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Cash and cash equivalents	116,000	20,650	116,000	20,650
Land	0	312,579	0	312,579
Buildings and improvements	425,000	3,677,497	425,000	3,677,497
Accounts receivables and other assets	30,000	10,978	30,000	10,978
Tenant relationship and acquired in-place lease value	495,000	1,582,385	495,000	1,582,385
Goodwill	982,667	2,592,181	982,667	2,592,181
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(90,000)	(248,259)	(90,000)	(248,259)
Acquired below-market leases	0	(185,543)	0	(185,543)
Other working capital, net	0	(22,640)	0	(22,640)
Redeemable noncontrolling interests -- operating partnership	0	(66,259)	0	(66,259)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures	(25,000)	0	(25,000)	0
Total Stockholders’ Equity
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income				248,259	426,187
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Issuance of preferred stock in connection with merger			(1,194)	(211,897)	$ (1,085,444)
Total Stockholders’ Equity | Acquisitions Through December 31, 2018
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Common stock issued in connection with merger			0	(5,247,558)
Total Stockholders’ Equity | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Acquisitions Through December 31, 2018
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Common stock issued in connection with merger			0	(5,247,558)
Common Unit | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Acquisitions Through December 31, 2018
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Common stock issued in connection with merger			(253,837)	(676,566)
Preferred Stock | Series C Preferred Stock and Unit | Acquisitions Through December 31, 2018
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Issuance of preferred stock in connection with merger			0	(219,250)
Cash consideration			1,679,830	0
Preferred Stock | Series C Preferred Stock and Unit | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Acquisitions Through December 31, 2018
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Cash consideration			1,679,830	0
Series C Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Acquisitions Through December 31, 2018
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Issuance of preferred stock in connection with merger			0	(219,250)
Global revolving credit facilities | Acquisitions Through December 31, 2018
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Long term debt	0	(450,697)	0	(450,697)
Global revolving credit facilities | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Acquisitions Through December 31, 2018
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Long term debt	0	(450,697)	0	(450,697)
Unsecured term loan | Acquisitions Through December 31, 2018
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Long term debt	0	(250,000)	0	(250,000)
Unsecured term loan | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Acquisitions Through December 31, 2018
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Long term debt	0	(250,000)	0	(250,000)
Senior notes | Acquisitions Through December 31, 2018
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Long term debt	0	(886,831)	0	(886,831)
Senior notes | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Acquisitions Through December 31, 2018
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Long term debt	0	(886,831)	0	(886,831)
Mortgage loans | Acquisitions Through December 31, 2018
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Long term debt	0	(105,000)	0	(105,000)
Mortgage loans | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Acquisitions Through December 31, 2018
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Long term debt	0	(105,000)	0	(105,000)
Acquired above-market leases | Acquisitions Through December 31, 2018
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Acquired above-market leases	0	162,333	0	162,333
Acquired above-market leases | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Acquisitions Through December 31, 2018
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Acquired above-market leases	$ 0	$ 162,333	$ 0	162,333
Corporate Joint Venture
Contribution of assets and liabilities to unconsolidated joint venture:
Investments in real estate				119,106
Other assets				16,700
Other liabilities				(31,634)
Corporate Joint Venture | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Contribution of assets and liabilities to unconsolidated joint venture:
Investments in real estate				119,106
Other assets				16,700
Other liabilities				$ (31,634)