CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Operating Revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 3,209,241	$ 3,046,478	$ 2,457,928
Operating Expenses:
Rental property operating and maintenance	1,020,578	957,065	759,616
Property taxes and insurance	172,183	140,918	134,995
Depreciation and amortization	1,163,774	1,186,896	842,464
General and administrative	211,097	163,667	161,441
Transactions and integration	27,925	45,327	76,048
Impairment of investments in real estate	5,351	0	28,992
Other	14,118	2,818	3,077
Total operating expenses	2,615,026	2,496,691	2,006,633
Operating income	594,215	549,787	451,295
Other Income (Expenses):
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	8,067	32,979	25,516
Gain on deconsolidation, net	67,497		0
Gain on disposition of properties, net	267,651	80,049	40,354
Interest and other income, net	66,000	3,481	3,655
Interest expense	(353,057)	(321,529)	(258,642)
Tax expense	(11,995)	(2,084)	(7,901)
(Loss) gain from early extinguishment of debt	(39,157)	(1,568)	1,990
Net income	599,221	341,115	256,267
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	(19,460)	(9,869)	(8,008)
Net income attributable to Digital Realty Trust, Inc./Digital Realty Trust, L.P.	579,761	331,246	248,259
Preferred stock dividends, including undeclared dividends	(74,990)	(81,316)	(68,802)
Issuance costs associated with redeemed preferred stock	(11,760)		(6,309)
Net income available to common stock/unitholders	$ 493,011	$ 249,930	$ 173,148
Net income per share/unit available to common stockholders/unitholders:
Basic (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 2.37	$ 1.21	$ 0.99
Diluted (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 2.35	$ 1.21	$ 0.99
Weighted average common shares/units outstanding:
Basic (shares/units)	208,325,823	206,035,408	174,059,386
Diluted (shares/units)	209,462,247	206,673,471	174,895,098
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Operating Revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 3,209,241	$ 3,046,478	$ 2,457,928
Operating Expenses:
Rental property operating and maintenance	1,020,578	957,065	759,616
Property taxes and insurance	172,183	140,918	134,995
Depreciation and amortization	1,163,774	1,186,896	842,464
General and administrative	211,097	163,667	161,441
Transactions and integration	27,925	45,327	76,048
Impairment of investments in real estate	5,351	0	28,992
Other	14,118	2,818	3,077
Total operating expenses	2,615,026	2,496,691	2,006,633
Operating income	594,215	549,787	451,295
Other Income (Expenses):
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	8,067	32,979	25,516
Gain on deconsolidation, net	67,497
Gain on disposition of properties, net	267,651	80,049	40,354
Interest and other income, net	66,000	3,481	3,655
Interest expense	(353,057)	(321,529)	(258,642)
Tax expense	(11,995)	(2,084)	(7,901)
(Loss) gain from early extinguishment of debt	(39,157)	(1,568)	1,990
Net income	599,221	341,115	256,267
Net loss (income) attributable to noncontrolling interests	1,640	311	(4,238)
Net income attributable to Digital Realty Trust, Inc./Digital Realty Trust, L.P.	600,861	341,426	252,029
Preferred stock dividends, including undeclared dividends	(74,990)	(81,316)	(68,802)
Issuance costs associated with redeemed preferred stock	(11,760)	0	(6,309)
Net income available to common stock/unitholders	$ 514,111	$ 260,110	$ 176,918
Net income per share/unit available to common stockholders/unitholders:
Basic (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 2.37	$ 1.21	$ 0.99
Diluted (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 2.35	$ 1.21	$ 0.99
Weighted average common shares/units outstanding:
Basic (shares/units)	217,284,755	214,312,871	178,055,936
Diluted (shares/units)	218,421,179	214,950,934	178,891,648
Rental and other services
Operating Revenues:
Operating Revenues	$ 3,196,356	$ 2,412,076	$ 2,010,301
Rental and other services | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Operating Revenues:
Operating Revenues	3,196,356	2,412,076	2,010,301
Tenant reimbursements
Operating Revenues:
Operating Revenues	0	624,637	440,224
Tenant reimbursements | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Operating Revenues:
Operating Revenues		624,637	440,224
Fee income and other
Operating Revenues:
Operating Revenues	12,885	9,765	7,403
Fee income and other | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Operating Revenues:
Operating Revenues	$ 12,885	$ 9,765	$ 7,403