Cover Page - USD ($) $ in Billions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Feb. 26, 2020	Jun. 28, 2019
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2019
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-32336
Entity Registrant Name	DIGITAL REALTY TRUST, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MD
Entity Tax Identification Number	26-0081711
Entity Address, Address Line One	Four Embarcadero Center, Suite 3200
Entity Address, City or Town	San Francisco
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	94111
City Area Code	415
Local Phone Number	738-6500
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 25
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		209,039,061
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0001297996
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2019
Entity File Number	000-54023
Entity Registrant Name	DIGITAL REALTY TRUST, L.P.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MD
Entity Tax Identification Number	20-2402955
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2019
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Central Index Key	0001494877
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Common Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock
Trading Symbol	DLR
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series C Preferred Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Series C Cumulative Redeemable PerpetualPreferred Stock
Trading Symbol	DLR Pr C
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Potentially dilutive Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred
Trading Symbol	DLR Pr G
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Potentially dilutive Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Series I Cumulative Redeemable PreferredStock
Trading Symbol	DLR Pr I
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series J Preferred Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Series J Cumulative Redeemable PreferredStock
Trading Symbol	DLR Pr J
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Potentially dilutive Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Series K Cumulative Redeemable PreferredStock
Trading Symbol	DLR Pr K
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series L Preferred Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Series L Cumulative Redeemable PreferredStock
Trading Symbol	DLR Pr L
Security Exchange Name	NYSE