Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Schedule of Distributions) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands										12 Months Ended
	Oct. 10, 2019	Apr. 01, 2019	Mar. 13, 2019	Sep. 14, 2017	Aug. 07, 2017	Apr. 05, 2017	Aug. 24, 2015	Mar. 26, 2014	Apr. 09, 2013	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Redemption price (in dollars per share)										$ 25.00
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per share)										$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)				$ 1.65625
Series F Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Redemption price (in dollars per share)						$ 25.01840
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per share)						$ 25.00
Accrued and unpaid dividends up to but not including the redemption date						$ 100
Redemption premium						$ 6,300
Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)									$ 1.46875
Series H Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)								$ 1.84375
Redemption price (in dollars per share)		$ 25.00
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per share)		$ 25.00
Redemption premium		$ 11,800
Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)							$ 1.58750
Potentially dilutive Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)					$ 1.31250
Potentially dilutive Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)			$ 1.46250
Series L Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										$ 4,036
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 1.30000									$ 1.30000
Installment 4 Year One | Series L Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										$ 4,036
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										$ 13,332	$ 13,332	$ 3,963
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)										$ 1.65625
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series F Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										$ 0	0	3,023
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)										$ 1.65625
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										$ 14,688	14,688	14,688
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)										$ 1.46875
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series H Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										$ 6,730	26,920	26,920
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)										$ 1.84375
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										$ 15,876	15,876	15,876
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)										$ 1.58750
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Potentially dilutive Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										$ 10,500	10,500	4,200
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)										$ 1.31250
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Potentially dilutive Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										$ 9,828
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)										$ 1.46250
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units										$ 940,716	$ 867,405	$ 702,254
Common stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)										$ 4.320	$ 4.040	$ 3.720
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year One | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										$ 3,333
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year One | Series F Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year One | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year One | Series H Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										6,730
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year One | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year One | Potentially dilutive Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										2,625
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year One | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units										235,256
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year Three | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												$ 0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year Three | Series F Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												3,023
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year Three | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year Three | Series H Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												6,730
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year Three | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year Three | Potentially dilutive Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year Three | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units												150,968
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year Two | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											$ 3,333
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year Two | Series F Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year Two | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year Two | Series H Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											6,730
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year Two | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year Two | Potentially dilutive Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											2,625
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year Two | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units											216,953
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year One | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										3,333
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year One | Series F Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year One | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year One | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year One | Potentially dilutive Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										2,625
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year One | Potentially dilutive Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										3,686
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year One | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units										235,142
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year Three | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year Three | Series F Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year Three | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year Three | Series H Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												6,730
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year Three | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year Three | Potentially dilutive Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year Three | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units												153,176
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year Two | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											3,333
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year Two | Series F Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year Two | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year Two | Series H Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											6,730
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year Two | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year Two | Potentially dilutive Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											2,625
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year Two | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units											216,789
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year One | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										3,333
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year One | Series F Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year One | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year One | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year One | Potentially dilutive Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										2,625
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year One | Potentially dilutive Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										3,071
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year One | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units										235,164
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year Three | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year Three | Series F Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year Three | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year Three | Series H Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												6,730
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year Three | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year Three | Potentially dilutive Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year Three | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units												199,049
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year Two | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											3,333
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year Two | Series F Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year Two | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year Two | Series H Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											6,730
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year Two | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year Two | Potentially dilutive Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											2,625
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year Two | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units											216,825
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year One | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										3,333
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year One | Series F Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year One | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year One | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year One | Potentially dilutive Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										2,625
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year One | Potentially dilutive Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										3,071
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year One | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units										$ 235,154
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year Three | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												3,963
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year Three | Series F Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year Three | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year Three | Series H Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												6,730
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year Three | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year Three | Potentially dilutive Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												4,200
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year Three | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units												$ 199,061
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year Two | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											3,333
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year Two | Series F Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year Two | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year Two | Series H Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											6,730
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year Two | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year Two | Potentially dilutive Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											2,625
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year Two | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units											$ 216,838