Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Schedule of Distributions) (Details) - Digital Realty Trust, L.P. $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019 USD ($) $ / shares
Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
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]
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]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit) | $ / shares	1.84375
Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit) | $ / shares	1.5875
Series J Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit) | $ / shares	1.3125
Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Common stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit) | $ / shares	$ 4.32
March 29, 2019 | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units | $	$ 3,333
March 29, 2019 | Potentially dilutive Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units | $	3,672
March 29, 2019 | Potentially dilutive Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units | $	6,730
March 29, 2019 | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units | $	3,969
March 29, 2019 | Series J Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units | $	2,625
March 29, 2019 | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units | $	$ 235,256