Debt Instrument, Extension Length

No definition available.

Name:	dlr_DebtInstrumentExtensionLength
Namespace Prefix:	dlr_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line Of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity, Subject To Receipt Of Lender Commitments And Other Conditions

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dlr_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacitySubjectToReceiptOfLenderCommitmentsAndOtherConditions
Namespace Prefix:	dlr_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Number Of Extension Options

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dlr_NumberOfExtensionOptions
Namespace Prefix:	dlr_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount, before unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109500613&loc=SL6031897-161870

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=119400593&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentCarryingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period of time between issuance and maturity of debt instrument, in PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=dlr_DigitalRealtyTrustLPMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=dlr_UnsecuredTermLoanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=dlr_TwentyTwentyThreeAndTwentyTwentyFourTermLoanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=dlr_UnsecuredTermLoan5YearMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=dlr_UnsecuredTermLoan7YearMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=dlr_UnsecuredTermLoanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Debt of the Operating Partnership (Unsecured Term Loans) (Narrative) (Details) - Digital Realty Trust, L.P. $ in Thousands		12 Months Ended
	Oct. 24, 2018 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) item	Dec. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Jan. 15, 2016 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross		$ 10,205,433
Unsecured term loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, extension term		6 months
Long-term debt, gross		$ 813,205
2023 and 2024 Term Loan \| Unsecured term loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate basis spread		100.00%
Long-term debt, gross		$ 813,205	$ 808,120
Unsecured Term Loan, 5 Year
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 300,000
Debt instrument term	5 years
Unsecured Term Loan, 7 Year
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 512,000
Debt instrument term	5 years
Unsecured term loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity				$ 1,550,000
Number of extension options \| item		2
Maximum borrowing capacity, subject to receipt of lender commitments and other conditions		$ 1,250,000
Interest rate basis spread		1.00%
Long-term debt, gross		$ 800,000