Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended
Mar. 09, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill - Beginning Balance		$ 3,363,070
Merger/Acquisition		4,192,504
Impact of Change in Foreign Exchange Rates		(89,528)
Goodwill - Ending Balance		7,466,046
Telx Acquisition
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill - Beginning Balance		330,845
Impact of Change in Foreign Exchange Rates		0
Goodwill - Ending Balance		330,845
European Portfolio Acquisition
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill - Beginning Balance		440,079
Impact of Change in Foreign Exchange Rates		(20,250)
Goodwill - Ending Balance		419,829
DFT Merger
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Goodwill - Beginning Balance		2,592,146
Impact of Change in Foreign Exchange Rates		0
Goodwill - Ending Balance		2,592,146
InterXion
Goodwill [Roll Forward]
Merger/Acquisition	$ 4,200,000	4,192,504
Impact of Change in Foreign Exchange Rates		(69,278)
Goodwill - Ending Balance	$ 4,192,504	$ 4,123,226

Amount after accumulated impairment loss of an asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=77989000&loc=SL49117168-202975

Reference 2: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 45
-Paragraph 1
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=99380562&loc=d3e13770-109266

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_Goodwill
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount of increase in asset representing future economic benefits arising from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized resulting from a business combination.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108376223&loc=d3e13816-109267

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillAcquiredDuringPeriod
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of foreign currency translation gain (loss) which increases (decreases) an asset representing future economic benefits from other assets acquired in a business combination that are not individually identified and separately recognized.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (f)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=108376223&loc=d3e13816-109267

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_GoodwillForeignCurrencyTranslationGainLoss
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

A roll forward is a reconciliation of a concept from the beginning of a period to the end of a period.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=dlr_TelxAcquisitionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=dlr_EuropeanPortfolioAcquisitionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=dlr_DFTCompanyMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=dlr_InterxionMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type: