Debt of the Operating Partnership (Summary of Outstanding Indebtedness) (Details) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Unsecured term loans | 2019 Term Loan | Base Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate basis spread	1.00%
Unsecured senior notes | Floating rate notes due 2019 | EURIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate basis spread	0.50%
Senior Notes | 4.750% notes due 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	4.75%
Senior Notes | 2.625% notes due 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	2.625%
Senior Notes | 2.750% notes due 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	2.75%
Senior Notes | 4.250% notes due 2025
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	4.25%
Senior Notes | 2.500% notes due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	2.50%
Senior Notes | 1.125% notes due 2028
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	1.125%
Senior Notes | 3.300% notes due 2029
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	3.30%
Senior Notes | 3.750% notes due 2030
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	3.75%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 10,205,433
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	22,554
Total indebtedness	10,122,448	$ 11,101,479
Unamortized net premiums	6,463
Long-term debt, net of discount (premium)	10,189,342
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Global revolving credit facilities, net
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	245,766	1,663,156
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	0
Deferred financing costs	(11,661)	(15,421)
Total indebtedness	234,105	1,647,735
Unamortized net premiums	0
Long-term debt, net of discount (premium)	$ 245,766
Interest rate basis spread	90.00%
Commitment fee percentage	20.00%
Number of extension options | item	2
Debt instrument, extension term	6 months
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Yen Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 146,451	134,564
Interest rate basis spread	50.00%
Commitment fee percentage	10.00%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 813,205
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	0
Deferred financing costs	(2,986)	(4,216)
Total indebtedness	810,219	1,178,904
Unamortized net premiums	0
Long-term debt, net of discount (premium)	$ 813,205
Debt instrument, extension term	6 months
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loans | 2023 and 2024 Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 813,205	808,120
Interest rate basis spread	100.00%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loans | 2019 Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		375,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loans | 2023 Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 300,000	300,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured term loans | 2024 Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	513,205	508,120
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	16,145	19,859
Deferred financing costs	(52,038)	(40,553)
Total indebtedness	8,973,190	7,589,126
Long-term debt, net of discount (premium)	$ 9,025,228	7,629,679
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes | Floating rate notes due 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		143,338
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes | 5.875% notes due 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		500,000
Stated interest rate	5.875%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes | 3.400% notes due 2020
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		500,000
Stated interest rate	3.40%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes | 5.250% notes due 2021
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		400,000
Stated interest rate	5.25%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes | 3.950% notes due 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 500,000	500,000
Stated interest rate	3.95%
Aggregate principal amount	$ 500,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes | 3.625% notes due 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 300,000	300,000
Stated interest rate	3.625%
Aggregate principal amount	$ 300,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes | 2.750% notes due 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 350,000	350,000
Stated interest rate	2.75%
Aggregate principal amount	$ 350,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes | 4.750% notes due 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 397,710	382,620
Stated interest rate	4.75%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes | 2.625% notes due 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 672,780	688,020
Stated interest rate	2.625%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes | 2.750% notes due 2024
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 331,425	318,850
Stated interest rate	2.75%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes | 4.250% notes due 2025
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 530,280	510,160
Stated interest rate	4.25%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes | 4.750% notes due 2025
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 450,000	450,000
Stated interest rate	4.75%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes | 2.500% notes due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 1,205,398	0
Stated interest rate	2.50%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes | 3.700% notes due 2027
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 1,000,000	1,000,000
Stated interest rate	3.70%
Aggregate principal amount	$ 1,000,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes | 1.125% notes due 2028
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 560,650	0
Stated interest rate	1.125%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes | 4.450% notes due 2028
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 650,000	650,000
Stated interest rate	4.45%
Aggregate principal amount	$ 650,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes | 3.600% notes due 2029
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 900,000	0
Stated interest rate	3.60%
Aggregate principal amount	$ 900,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes | 3.300% notes due 2029
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 463,995	446,390
Stated interest rate	3.30%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes | 3.750% notes due 2030
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 729,135	510,160
Stated interest rate	3.75%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 9,041,373
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	22,554
Unamortized net premiums	6,409
Long-term debt, net of discount (premium)	$ 9,025,228
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes | 3.950% notes due 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	3.95%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes | 3.625% notes due 2022
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	3.625%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes | 2.750% notes due 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	2.75%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes | 4.750% notes due 2025
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	4.75%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes | 3.700% notes due 2027
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	3.70%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes | 4.450% notes due 2028
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	4.45%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes | 3.600% notes due 2029
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	3.60%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Secured Debt.
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 105,089
Debt Instrument, Unamortized Discount	0
Deferred financing costs	(209)	(20,210)
Total indebtedness	104,934	685,714
Unamortized net premiums	54	148
Long-term debt, net of discount (premium)	105,143	705,924
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Secured Debt. | 731 East Trade Street
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 1,089	1,776
Stated interest rate	8.22%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Secured Debt. | Secured note due March 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 104,000	104,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Secured Debt. | Secured note due March 2023 | LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate basis spread	1.00%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Secured Debt. | Secured note due December 2023
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 600,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Secured Debt. | Secured note due December 2023 | Base Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate basis spread	4.25%