CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CAPITAL (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018	Jan. 01, 2019
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (units)	206,425,656
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units	$ 136,009	$ 15,201
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan	2,259	2,509
Units repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting		(4,718)
Issuance of series K preferred units, net of offering costs	203,423
Amortization of share-based compensation	8,400	7,515
Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard			$ (6,318)
Net income	120,925	110,095
Other comprehensive loss—foreign currency translation adjustments	30,880	(3,743)
Other comprehensive income—fair value of interest rate swaps	(3,775)	8,616
Other comprehensive loss—reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense	$ (2,094)	(235)
Ending balance (units)	208,214,139
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 10,858,210	11,049,450
Issuance of common units, net of offering costs	(375)	(12)
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan	2,259	2,509
Units repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting		(4,718)
Issuance of series K preferred units, net of offering costs	203,423
Amortization of share-based compensation	8,400	7,515
Adjustment to redeemable partnership units	(1,943)	4,031
Distributions	(255,312)	(237,026)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of distributions	28,219	62
Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard			(6,318)
Net income	120,925	110,095
Other comprehensive loss—foreign currency translation adjustments	30,880	(3,743)
Other comprehensive income—fair value of interest rate swaps	(3,775)	8,616
Other comprehensive loss—reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense	(2,094)	(235)
Ending balance	10,982,499	10,936,544
Redeemable Limited Partner Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	15,832	53,902
Adjustment to redeemable partnership units	1,943	(4,031)
Distributions	(169)	0
Net income	72	0
Ending balance	17,678	49,871
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(120,393)	(112,885)
Other comprehensive loss—foreign currency translation adjustments	30,880	(3,743)
Other comprehensive loss—reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense	(2,094)	(235)
Ending balance	(95,382)	(108,247)
Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Joint Ventures | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	93,056	2,243
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of distributions	28,219	62
Net income	(115)	(12)
Ending balance	121,160	2,293
General Partner | Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 1,249,560	$ 1,249,560
Beginning balance (units)	50,650,000	50,650,000
Issuance of series K preferred units, net of offering costs (in shares)	8,400,000
Issuance of series K preferred units, net of offering costs	$ 203,423
Distributions	(20,329)	$ (20,329)
Net income	20,329	20,329
Ending balance	$ 1,452,983	$ 1,249,560
Ending balance (units)	59,050,000	50,650,000
General Partner | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 8,724,731	$ 9,207,953
Beginning balance (units)	206,425,656	205,470,300
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units	$ 136,009	$ 15,201
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)	1,517,876	168,367
Issuance of unvested restricted common units (units)	245,373	251,187
Issuance of common units, net of offering costs	$ (375)	$ (12)
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan	$ 2,259	2,509
Units repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting		$ (4,718)
Units repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting (units)		(46,833)
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan (units)	25,234	31,893
Amortization of share-based compensation	$ 8,400	$ 7,515
Reclassification of vested share-based awards	(7,320)	(2,497)
Adjustment to redeemable partnership units	(1,943)	4,031
Distributions	(224,802)	(208,015)
Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard			$ (6,318)
Net income	96,483	86,298
Ending balance	$ 8,727,124	$ 9,108,265
Ending balance (units)	208,214,139	205,874,914
Limited Partners | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 911,256	$ 702,579
Beginning balance (units)	10,580,884	8,489,095
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units	$ (136,009)	$ (15,201)
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)	(1,517,876)	(168,367)
Issuance of common units, net of forfeitures (units)	410,451	415,760
Reclassification of vested share-based awards	$ 7,320	$ 2,497
Adjustment to redeemable partnership units	0	0
Distributions	(10,181)	(8,682)
Net income	4,228	3,480
Ending balance	$ 776,614	$ 684,673
Ending balance (units)	9,473,459	8,736,488
Interest Rate Swap
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income—fair value of interest rate swaps	$ (3,775)	$ 8,616
Interest Rate Swap | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income—fair value of interest rate swaps	(3,775)	8,616
Interest Rate Swap | Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income—fair value of interest rate swaps	$ (3,775)	$ 8,616