Debt of the Operating Partnership (Unsecured Senior Notes) (Details) € in Millions, £ in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2019 GBP (£)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2019 EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2019 GBP (£)	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($)	Mar. 05, 2019 GBP (£)	Oct. 17, 2018 GBP (£)
3.950% notes due 2022 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			3.95%	3.95%	3.95%
3.950% notes due 2022 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Debt face amount					$ 500.0
Net proceeds from offering		$ 491.8
Stated interest rate			3.95%	3.95%	3.95%
3.625% notes due 2022 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			3.625%	3.625%	3.625%
3.625% notes due 2022 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Debt face amount					$ 300.0
Net proceeds from offering		293.1
Stated interest rate			3.625%	3.625%	3.625%
2.750% notes due 2023 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			2.75%	2.75%	2.75%
2.750% notes due 2023 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Debt face amount					$ 350.0
Net proceeds from offering		346.9
Stated interest rate			2.75%	2.75%	2.75%
4.750% notes due 2023 | Senior Notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			4.75%	4.75%	4.75%
4.750% notes due 2023 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			4.75%	4.75%	4.75%
4.750% notes due 2023 | Digital Stout Holding, LLC | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Debt face amount | £				£ 300.0
Net proceeds from offering | £	£ 490.9
2.625% notes due 2024 | Senior Notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			2.625%	2.625%	2.625%
2.625% notes due 2024 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			2.625%	2.625%	2.625%
2.625% notes due 2024 | Digital Euro Finco, LLC | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Debt face amount | €			€ 600.0
Net proceeds from offering | £	670.3
2.750% notes due 2024 | Senior Notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			2.75%	2.75%	2.75%
2.750% notes due 2024 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			2.75%	2.75%	2.75%
2.750% notes due 2024 | Digital Stout Holding, LLC | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Debt face amount | £				£ 250.0
Net proceeds from offering | £	321.3
4.250% notes due 2025 | Senior Notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			4.25%	4.25%	4.25%
4.250% notes due 2025 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			4.25%	4.25%	4.25%
4.250% notes due 2025 | Digital Stout Holding, LLC | Senior Notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			4.25%	4.25%	4.25%
4.250% notes due 2025 | Digital Stout Holding, LLC | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Debt face amount | £				£ 400.0
Net proceeds from offering | £	624.2
2.500% notes due 2026 | Senior Notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			2.50%	2.50%	2.50%
2.500% notes due 2026 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			2.50%	2.50%	2.50%
2.500% notes due 2026 | Digital Euro Finco, LLC | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Debt face amount					$ 1,075.0
Net proceeds from offering		1,218.6
3.700% notes due 2027 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			3.70%	3.70%	3.70%
3.700% notes due 2027 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Debt face amount					$ 1,000.0
Net proceeds from offering		991.0
Stated interest rate			3.70%	3.70%	3.70%
1.125% notes due 2028 | Senior Notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			1.125%	1.125%	1.125%
1.125% notes due 2028 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			1.125%	1.125%	1.125%
1.125% notes due 2028 | Digital Euro Finco, LLC | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Debt face amount					$ 500.0
Net proceeds from offering		539.7
4.450% notes due 2028 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			4.45%	4.45%	4.45%
4.450% notes due 2028 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Debt face amount					$ 650.0
Net proceeds from offering		643.3
Stated interest rate			4.45%	4.45%	4.45%
3.300% notes due 2029 | Senior Notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			3.30%	3.30%	3.30%
3.300% notes due 2029 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			3.30%	3.30%	3.30%
3.300% notes due 2029 | Digital Stout Holding, LLC | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Debt face amount | £				£ 350.0
Net proceeds from offering | £	448.6
3.600% notes due 2029 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			3.60%	3.60%	3.60%
3.600% notes due 2029 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Debt face amount					$ 900.0
Net proceeds from offering		890.6
Stated interest rate			3.60%	3.60%	3.60%
3.750% notes due 2030 | Senior Notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			3.75%	3.75%	3.75%
3.750% notes due 2030 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			3.75%	3.75%	3.75%
3.750% notes due 2030 | Digital Stout Holding, LLC | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Debt face amount | £				£ 550.0		£ 150.0	£ 400.0
Net proceeds from offering | £	£ 716.8
4.750% notes due 2025 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			4.75%	4.75%	4.75%
4.750% notes due 2025 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate			4.75%	4.75%	4.75%
4.750% notes due 2025 | Digital Delta Holding, LLC | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Debt face amount					$ 450.0
Net proceeds from offering		$ 445.8
Stated interest rate			4.75%	4.75%	4.75%