Equity and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net (Schedule of Dividends) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands							12 Months Ended
	Sep. 14, 2017	Aug. 07, 2017	Apr. 15, 2017	Aug. 24, 2015	Mar. 26, 2014	Apr. 09, 2013	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Apr. 01, 2019
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Redemption price (in dollars per share)							$ 25.00
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per share)							25.00	$ 25.00
Series C Preferred Stock
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share)	$ 1.65625						$ 1.65625
Series C Preferred Stock | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							$ 13,332	$ 13,332	$ 3,963
Series C Preferred Stock | Installment 3 Year One | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							3,333
Series C Preferred Stock | Installment 1 Year Two | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock									0
Series C Preferred Stock | Installment 2 Year Two | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock									0
Series C Preferred Stock | Installment 3 Year Two | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							3,333		0
Series C Preferred Stock | Installment 4 Year Two | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock									3,963
Series C Preferred Stock | Installment 1 Year Three | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock								3,333
Series C Preferred Stock | Installment 2 Year Three | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock								3,333
Series C Preferred Stock | Installment 3 Year Three | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							3,333	3,333
Series C Preferred Stock | Installment 3 Year Four | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							$ 3,333
Series C Preferred Stock | Installment 4 Year Three | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock								3,333
Series F Preferred Stock
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share)							$ 1.65625
Redemption price (in dollars per share)			$ 25.01840
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per share)			$ 25.00
Accrued and unpaid dividends up to but not including the redemption date			$ 100
Redemption premium			$ 6,300
Series F Preferred Stock | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							$ 0	0	3,023
Series F Preferred Stock | Installment 3 Year One | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							0
Series F Preferred Stock | Installment 1 Year Two | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock									3,023
Series F Preferred Stock | Installment 2 Year Two | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock									0
Series F Preferred Stock | Installment 3 Year Two | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							0		0
Series F Preferred Stock | Installment 4 Year Two | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock									0
Series F Preferred Stock | Installment 1 Year Three | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock								0
Series F Preferred Stock | Installment 2 Year Three | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock								0
Series F Preferred Stock | Installment 3 Year Three | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							0	0
Series F Preferred Stock | Installment 3 Year Four | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							$ 0
Series F Preferred Stock | Installment 4 Year Three | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock								0
Potentially dilutive Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share)						$ 1.46875	$ 1.46875
Potentially dilutive Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							$ 14,688	14,688	14,688
Potentially dilutive Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 3 Year One | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							3,672
Potentially dilutive Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 1 Year Two | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock									3,672
Potentially dilutive Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 2 Year Two | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock									3,672
Potentially dilutive Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 3 Year Two | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							3,672		3,672
Potentially dilutive Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 4 Year Two | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock									3,672
Potentially dilutive Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 1 Year Three | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock								3,672
Potentially dilutive Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 2 Year Three | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock								3,672
Potentially dilutive Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 3 Year Three | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							3,672	3,672
Potentially dilutive Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 3 Year Four | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							$ 3,672
Potentially dilutive Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 4 Year Three | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock								3,672
Potentially dilutive Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share)					$ 1.84375		$ 1.84375
Redemption price (in dollars per share)										$ 25.00
Offering costs										$ 11,800
Potentially dilutive Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							$ 6,730	26,920	26,920
Potentially dilutive Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 3 Year One | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							$ 6,730
Potentially dilutive Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 1 Year Two | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock									6,730
Potentially dilutive Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 2 Year Two | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock									6,730
Potentially dilutive Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 3 Year Two | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock									6,730
Potentially dilutive Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 4 Year Two | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock									6,730
Potentially dilutive Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 1 Year Three | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock								6,730
Potentially dilutive Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 2 Year Three | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock								6,730
Potentially dilutive Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 3 Year Three | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock								6,730
Potentially dilutive Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 4 Year Three | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock								6,730
Potentially dilutive Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share)				$ 1.58750			$ 1.58750
Potentially dilutive Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							$ 15,876	15,876	15,876
Potentially dilutive Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 3 Year One | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							3,969
Potentially dilutive Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 1 Year Two | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock									3,969
Potentially dilutive Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 2 Year Two | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock									3,969
Potentially dilutive Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 3 Year Two | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							3,969		3,969
Potentially dilutive Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 4 Year Two | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock									3,969
Potentially dilutive Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 1 Year Three | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock								3,969
Potentially dilutive Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 2 Year Three | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock								3,969
Potentially dilutive Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 3 Year Three | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							3,969	3,969
Potentially dilutive Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 3 Year Four | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							$ 3,969
Potentially dilutive Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 4 Year Three | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock								3,969
Series J Preferred Stock
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share)		$ 1.31250					$ 1.31250
Series J Preferred Stock | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							$ 10,500	10,500	4,200
Series J Preferred Stock | Installment 3 Year One | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							2,625
Series J Preferred Stock | Installment 1 Year Two | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock									0
Series J Preferred Stock | Installment 2 Year Two | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock									0
Series J Preferred Stock | Installment 3 Year Two | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							2,625		0
Series J Preferred Stock | Installment 4 Year Two | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock									$ 4,200
Series J Preferred Stock | Installment 1 Year Three | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock								2,625
Series J Preferred Stock | Installment 2 Year Three | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock								2,625
Series J Preferred Stock | Installment 3 Year Three | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							2,625	2,625
Series J Preferred Stock | Installment 3 Year Four | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							$ 2,625
Series J Preferred Stock | Installment 4 Year Three | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock								$ 2,625
Potentially dilutive Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share)							$ 1.46250
Potentially dilutive Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							$ 9,828
Potentially dilutive Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 3 Year Two | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							3,686
Potentially dilutive Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 3 Year Three | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							3,071
Potentially dilutive Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | Installment 3 Year Four | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							$ 3,071
Series L Preferred Stock
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share)							$ 1.30000
Series L Preferred Stock | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							$ 4,036
Series L Preferred Stock | Installment 3 Year Four | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock							$ 4,036
Common Stock
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Common stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share)							$ 4.320	$ 4.040	$ 3.720
Common Stock | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, common stock							$ 900,373	$ 832,667	$ 681,280
Common Stock | Installment 3 Year One | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, common stock							224,802
Common Stock | Installment 1 Year Two | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, common stock									148,358
Common Stock | Installment 2 Year Two | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, common stock									150,814
Common Stock | Installment 3 Year Two | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, common stock							224,895		191,041
Common Stock | Installment 4 Year Two | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, common stock									$ 191,067
Common Stock | Installment 1 Year Three | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, common stock								208,015
Common Stock | Installment 2 Year Three | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, common stock								208,071
Common Stock | Installment 3 Year Three | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, common stock							225,188	208,166
Common Stock | Installment 3 Year Four | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, common stock							$ 225,488
Common Stock | Installment 4 Year Three | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, common stock								$ 208,415