CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CAPITAL - USD ($)	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (units)		206,425,656			206,425,656
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units					$ 190,514,000	$ 62,004,000	$ 10,009,000
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan					5,462,000	5,874,000	$ 5,143,000
Units repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting						$ (5,055,000)
Issuance of preferred units, net of offering costs (units)						2,338,874	6,111,770
Amortization of unearned compensation on share-based awards					38,662,000	$ 32,456,000	$ 27,981,000
Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interests					(25,937,000)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of distributions					63,173,000	66,124,000
Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard	$ (6,318,000)		$ 5,915,000		(6,318,000)	5,915,000
Deconsolidation of consolidated joint venture					(110,086,000)
Net income	$ 349,326,000	$ 120,997,000	$ 52,597,000	$ 110,095,000	599,221,000	341,115,000	256,267,000
Net income					598,849,000	340,640,000	256,267,000
Other comprehensive income-foreign currency translation adjustments					45,662,000	(11,736,000)	28,709,000
Other comprehensive income- fair value of interest rate swaps/foreign currency hedges					$ (9,232,000)	$ 8,197,000	(3,434,000)
Ending balance (units)	208,900,758		206,425,656		208,900,758	206,425,656
Interest Rate Swap
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income- fair value of interest rate swaps/foreign currency hedges					$ (9,232,000)	$ 8,197,000	(3,434,000)
DFT Merger
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common units in connection with business combinations							5,924,124,000
Ascenty
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common units in connection with business combinations						278,837,000
Series C Preferred Stock | DFT Merger
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of preferred units, net of offering costs							219,250,000
Series F Preferred Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Redemption of preferred units							(182,500,000)
Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interests						37,274,000
Potentially dilutive Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Redemption of preferred units					(365,050,000)
Series J Preferred Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of preferred units, net of offering costs							193,540,000
Potentially dilutive Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of preferred units, net of offering costs					203,264,000
Series L Preferred Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of preferred units, net of offering costs					334,886,000
Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Joint Ventures
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interests					(23,878,000)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of distributions					63,173,000	66,124,000
Deconsolidation of consolidated joint venture					(110,086,000)
Net income					(1,640,000)	(311,000)	4,238,000
Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Joint Ventures | Ascenty
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common units in connection with business combinations						25,000,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		10,858,210,000		11,049,450,000	10,858,210,000	11,049,450,000	5,132,297,000
Common unit offering costs					2,530,000	1,194,000	$ 211,897,000
Issuance of common units in connection with the exercise of stock options							729,000
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan					5,462,000		$ 5,143,000
Units repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting						(5,055,000)
Amortization of unearned compensation on share-based awards					38,662,000	32,456,000	27,981,000
Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interests					(25,937,000)	37,274,000	12,357,000
Distributions					(1,013,469,000)	(946,991,000)	(770,776,000)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of distributions					63,173,000	66,124,000
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of contributions							(8,593,000)
Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard	$ (6,318,000)		$ (5,915,000)		(6,318,000)	(5,915,000)
Deconsolidation of consolidated joint venture					(110,086,000)
Net income	349,326,000	120,997,000	52,597,000	110,095,000	599,221,000	341,115,000	256,267,000
Net income					598,849,000	340,640,000	256,267,000
Other comprehensive income-foreign currency translation adjustments					45,662,000	(11,736,000)	28,709,000
Other comprehensive income- fair value of interest rate swaps/foreign currency hedges					(9,232,000)	8,197,000	(3,434,000)
Ending balance	10,608,100,000		10,858,210,000		10,608,100,000	10,858,210,000	11,049,450,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | DFT Merger
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Common unit offering costs							5,924,124,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Ascenty
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common units in connection with business combinations						278,837,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series C Preferred Stock | DFT Merger
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common units in connection with business combinations							219,250,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series F Preferred Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Redemption of preferred units							(182,500,000)
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Potentially dilutive Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Redemption of preferred units					(365,050,000)
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series J Preferred Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of preferred units, net of offering costs							193,540,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Potentially dilutive Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of preferred units, net of offering costs					203,264,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series L Preferred Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of preferred units, net of offering costs					334,886,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		(120,393,000)		(112,885,000)	(120,393,000)	(112,885,000)	(140,619,000)
Other comprehensive income-foreign currency translation adjustments					45,662,000	(11,736,000)	28,709,000
Other comprehensive income- fair value of interest rate swaps/foreign currency hedges					(9,232,000)	8,197,000	(3,434,000)
Ending balance	(91,409,000)		(120,393,000)		(91,409,000)	(120,393,000)	(112,885,000)
Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Joint Ventures | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		93,056,000		2,243,000	93,056,000	2,243,000	6,598,000
Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interests					(23,878,000)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of distributions					63,173,000	66,124,000
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of contributions							(8,593,000)
Deconsolidation of consolidated joint venture					(110,086,000)
Net income					(1,640,000)	(311,000)	4,238,000
Ending balance	20,625,000		93,056,000		20,625,000	93,056,000	2,243,000
Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Joint Ventures | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Ascenty
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common units in connection with business combinations						25,000,000
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		15,832,000		53,902,000	15,832,000	53,902,000	0
Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interests					25,937,000	(37,274,000)	(12,357,000)
Distributions					(676,000)	(1,271,000)
Net income					372,000	475,000
Ending balance	41,465,000		15,832,000		41,465,000	15,832,000	$ 53,902,000
Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | DFT Merger
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common units in connection with business combinations (in units)							66,259,000
General Partner | Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		$ 1,249,560,000		$ 1,249,560,000	$ 1,249,560,000	$ 1,249,560,000	$ 1,012,961,000
Beginning balance (units)		50,650,000		50,650,000	50,650,000	50,650,000	41,900,000
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan						$ 5,874,000
Distributions					$ (74,990,000)	(81,316,000)	$ (68,802,000)
Net income					74,990,000	81,316,000	68,802,000
Ending balance	$ 1,434,420,000		$ 1,249,560,000		$ 1,434,420,000	$ 1,249,560,000	$ 1,249,560,000
Ending balance (units)	58,250,000		50,650,000		58,250,000	50,650,000	50,650,000
General Partner | Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series C Preferred Stock | DFT Merger
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common units in connection with business combinations							$ 219,250,000
Issuance of common units in connection with business combinations (in units)							8,050,000
General Partner | Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series F Preferred Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Redemption of preferred units							$ (176,191,000)
Redemption of series H preferred units (in units)							(7,300,000)
General Partner | Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Potentially dilutive Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Redemption of preferred units					$ (353,290,000)
Redemption of series H preferred units (in units)					(14,600,000)
General Partner | Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series J Preferred Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of preferred units, net of offering costs							$ 193,540,000
Issuance of preferred units, net of offering costs (units)							8,000,000
General Partner | Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Potentially dilutive Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of preferred units, net of offering costs					$ 203,264,000
Issuance of preferred units, net of offering costs (units)					8,400,000
General Partner | Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series L Preferred Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of preferred units, net of offering costs					$ 334,886,000
Issuance of preferred units, net of offering costs (units)					13,800,000
General Partner | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		$ 8,724,731,000		$ 9,207,953,000	$ 8,724,731,000	$ 9,207,953,000	$ 4,218,659,000
Beginning balance (units)		206,425,656		205,470,300	206,425,656	205,470,300	159,019,118
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units					$ 190,514,000	$ 62,004,000	$ 10,009,000
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)					2,154,460	711,892	562,582
Issuance of unvested restricted stock, net of forfeitures (units)					256,868	220,765	249,050
Common unit offering costs					$ 2,530,000	$ 1,194,000	$ 211,897,000
Issuance of common units, net of offering costs (in units)							2,375,000
Issuance of common units in connection with the exercise of stock options							729,000
Issuance of common units in connection with the exercise of stock options (in units)							$ 17,668
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan					$ 5,462,000	$ 5,874,000	$ 5,143,000
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan (units)					63,774	69,532	71,253
Units repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting						$ (5,055,000)
Units repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting (units)						(46,833)
Amortization of unearned compensation on share-based awards					$ 38,662,000	$ 32,456,000	$ 27,981,000
Reclassification of vested share-based awards					(8,458,000)	(3,772,000)	(10,057,000)
Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interests					(2,059,000)	1,596,000	4,166,000
Distributions					(900,201,000)	(833,364,000)	(681,280,000)
Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard	$ (6,318,000)		$ (5,915,000)		(6,318,000)	(5,915,000)
Net income					504,771,000	249,930,000	179,457,000
Ending balance	$ 8,532,814,000		$ 8,724,731,000		$ 8,532,814,000	$ 8,724,731,000	$ 9,207,953,000
Ending balance (units)	208,900,758		206,425,656		208,900,758	206,425,656	205,470,300
General Partner | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | DFT Merger
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common units in connection with business combinations (in units)							43,175,629
Common unit offering costs							$ 5,247,558,000
General Partner | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series F Preferred Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Redemption of preferred units							(6,309,000)
General Partner | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Potentially dilutive Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Redemption of preferred units					$ (11,760,000)
Limited Partners | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		$ 911,256,000		$ 702,579,000	$ 911,256,000	$ 702,579,000	$ 34,698,000
Beginning balance (units)		10,580,884		8,489,095	10,580,884	8,489,095	2,475,663
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units					$ (190,514,000)	$ (62,004,000)	$ (10,009,000)
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)					2,154,460	711,892	562,582
Issuance of unvested restricted stock, net of forfeitures (units)					416,731
Issuance of common units in connection with the exercise of stock options						464,807
Issuance of common units, net of forfeitures (units)							464,244
Reclassification of vested share-based awards					$ 8,458,000	$ 3,772,000	$ 10,057,000
Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interests						35,678,000	8,191,000
Distributions					(38,278,000)	(32,311,000)	(20,694,000)
Net income					20,728,000	9,705,000	3,770,000
Ending balance	$ 711,650,000		$ 911,256,000		$ 711,650,000	$ 911,256,000	$ 702,579,000
Ending balance (units)	8,843,155		10,580,884		8,843,155	10,580,884	8,489,095
Limited Partners | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | DFT Merger
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common units in connection with business combinations (in units)							6,111,770
Common unit offering costs							$ 676,566,000
Limited Partners | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Ascenty
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common units in connection with business combinations						$ 253,837,000
Issuance of common units in connection with business combinations (in units)						2,338,874