CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CAPITAL (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (units)			208,900,758
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units			$ 70,282	$ 145,106
Common units and share-based awards issued in connection with InterXion combination			6,985,052
Issuance of common units in connection with business combinations	$ 9,800
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan			2,638	2,259
Units repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting	(432)		(4,750)
Issuance of preferred units, net of offering costs				203,264
Redemption of preferred units				(365,050)
Amortization of share-based compensation	22,050	$ 10,461	37,730	18,861
Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interests	(499)	189	(3,491)	(1,754)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of distributions	4,506	34,529	43,982	62,748
Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard	17,682,649	10,473,720	17,682,649	10,473,720
Net income	75,978	61,324	304,676	182,321
Net income (loss)	76,260	61,300	307,864	182,225
Other comprehensive income (loss)-foreign currency translation adjustments	88,659	10,963	(268,543)	41,843
Decrease in other assets related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	(1,011)	(6,604)	(12,849)	(10,379)
Other comprehensive loss-reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense	$ 784	(2,156)	$ 226
Ending balance (units)	268,399,073		268,399,073
Interest Rate Swap
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Decrease in other assets related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	$ (1,011)	(6,604)		(10,379)
Potentially dilutive Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Redemption of preferred units		(365,050)
Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Joint Ventures
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of distributions	4,506	34,529	$ 43,982	62,748
Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard	64,291	155,445	64,291	155,445
Net income (loss)	(253)	(244)	(316)	(359)
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	17,176,540	10,982,499	10,608,100	10,858,210
Common units and share-based awards issued in connection with InterXion combination	9,800		6,985,052
Issuance of common unit, net of offering costs	638,126		644,631
Payment of offering costs		(601)		(976)
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan			2,638	2,259
Units repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting	(432)		(3,500)
Issuance of preferred units, net of offering costs		159		203,264
Redemption of preferred units		(365,050)		(365,050)
Amortization of share-based compensation	22,050	10,461	36,480	18,861
Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interests		189	(3,491)	1,754
Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interests	(499)
Distributions	(332,134)	(251,651)	(657,941)	(506,963)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of distributions			43,982
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of contributions	4,506	34,529		62,748
Net income	75,978	61,324	304,676	182,321
Net income (loss)	76,260	61,300	307,864	182,225
Other comprehensive income (loss)-foreign currency translation adjustments	88,659	10,963	(268,543)	41,843
Decrease in other assets related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	(1,011)	(6,604)	(12,849)	(10,379)
Other comprehensive loss-reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense	784	(2,156)	226	(4,250)
Ending balance	17,682,649	10,473,720	17,682,649	10,473,720
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Interest Rate Swap
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Decrease in other assets related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	(1,011)	(6,604)		(10,379)
Redeemable Interests | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	40,027	17,678	41,465	15,832
Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interests		(189)	3,491	(1,754)
Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interests	499
Distributions	(175)	(169)	(350)	(338)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of distributions			1,567
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of contributions	515
Net income (loss)	(282)	24	(3,188)	96
Other comprehensive income (loss)-foreign currency translation adjustments			(2,401)
Ending balance	40,584	17,344	40,584	17,344
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(461,007)	(95,382)	(91,409)	(120,393)
Other comprehensive income (loss)-foreign currency translation adjustments	88,659	10,963	(268,543)	41,843
Decrease in other assets related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps			(12,849)
Other comprehensive loss-reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense	784	(2,156)	226	(4,250)
Ending balance	(372,575)	(93,179)	(372,575)	(93,179)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Interest Rate Swap
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Decrease in other assets related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	(1,011)	(6,604)		(10,379)
Total Partners' Capital | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	17,116,502	10,861,339	10,587,475	10,765,154
Common units and share-based awards issued in connection with InterXion combination	9,800		6,985,052
Issuance of common unit, net of offering costs	638,126		644,631
Payment of offering costs		(601)		(976)
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan			2,638	2,259
Units repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting	(432)		(3,500)
Issuance of preferred units, net of offering costs		159		203,264
Redemption of preferred units		(365,050)		(365,050)
Amortization of share-based compensation	22,050	10,461	36,480	18,861
Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interests		189	(3,491)	1,754
Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interests	(499)
Distributions	(332,134)	(251,651)	(657,941)	(506,963)
Net income (loss)	76,513	61,544	308,180	182,584
Other comprehensive income (loss)-foreign currency translation adjustments	88,659	10,963	(268,543)	41,843
Decrease in other assets related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps			(12,849)
Other comprehensive loss-reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense	784	(2,156)	226	(4,250)
Ending balance	17,618,358	10,318,275	17,618,358	10,318,275
Total Partners' Capital | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Interest Rate Swap
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Decrease in other assets related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	(1,011)	(6,604)		(10,379)
Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Joint Ventures | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	60,038	121,160	20,625	93,056
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of distributions			43,982
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of contributions	4,506	34,529		62,748
Net income (loss)	(253)	(244)	(316)	(359)
Other comprehensive income (loss)-foreign currency translation adjustments	0	0
Ending balance	64,291	155,445	64,291	155,445
General Partner | Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 1,434,420	$ 1,452,983	$ 1,434,420	$ 1,249,560
Beginning balance (units)	58,250,000	59,050,000	58,250,000	50,650,000
Issuance of preferred units, net of offering costs		$ 159		$ 203,264
Issuance of preferred units, net of offering costs (units)				8,400,000
Redemption of preferred units		$ (353,290)		$ (353,290)
Redemption of series H preferred units (in units)		(14,600,000)		(14,600,000)
Distributions	$ (21,155)	$ (17,284)	$ (42,310)	$ (37,613)
Net income (loss)	21,155	17,284	42,310	37,613
Ending balance	$ 1,434,420	$ 1,099,534	$ 1,434,420	$ 1,099,534
Ending balance (units)	58,250,000	44,450,000	58,250,000	44,450,000
General Partner | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 15,470,038	$ 8,727,124	$ 8,532,814	$ 8,724,731
Beginning balance (units)	263,595,562	208,214,139	208,900,758	206,425,656
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units	$ 18,045	$ 9,097	$ 70,282	$ 145,106
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)	212,859	105,064	805,812	1,622,940
Common units and share-based awards issued in connection with InterXion combination	$ 9,800		$ 6,985,052
Common units and share-based awards issued in connection with InterXion combination (in shares)			54,298,595
Issuance of unvested restricted stock, net of forfeitures (units)		5,335		250,708
Issuance of common unit, net of offering costs	$ 638,126		$ 644,631
Issuance of common units, net of offering costs (in units)	4,535,951		4,585,951
Payment of offering costs		$ (601)		$ (976)
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan			$ 2,638	$ 2,259
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan (units)			25,234	25,234
Units repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting	$ (432)		$ (3,500)
Issuance of preferred units, net of offering costs (units)		0
Redemption of preferred units		$ (11,760)		$ (11,760)
Vesting of restricted stock, net (shares)	54,701		(217,277)
Amortization of share-based compensation	$ 22,050	10,461	$ 36,480	18,861
Reclassification of vested share-based awards	(1,497)	(392)	(16,504)	(7,712)
Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interests		189	(3,491)	1,754
Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interests	(499)
Distributions	(300,851)	(224,723)	(596,481)	(449,525)
Net income (loss)	53,676	42,884	256,535	139,367
Ending balance	$ 15,908,456	$ 8,552,279	$ 15,908,456	$ 8,552,279
Ending balance (units)	268,399,073	208,324,538	268,399,073	208,324,538
Limited Partners | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 673,051	$ 776,614	$ 711,650	$ 911,256
Beginning balance (units)	8,473,386	9,473,459	8,843,155	10,580,884
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units	$ (18,045)	$ (9,097)	$ (70,282)	$ (145,106)
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)	(212,859)	(105,064)	(805,812)	(1,622,940)
Issuance of common units, net of forfeitures (units)	27,292	1,654	250,476	412,105
Reclassification of vested share-based awards	$ 1,497	$ 392	$ 16,504	$ 7,712
Distributions	(10,128)	(9,644)	(19,150)	(19,825)
Net income (loss)	1,682	1,376	9,335	5,604
Ending balance	$ 648,057	$ 759,641	$ 648,057	$ 759,641
Ending balance (units)	8,287,819	9,370,049	8,287,819	9,370,049
Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard		$ (6,318)		$ (6,318)
Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard		(6,318)		(6,318)
Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment | Total Partners' Capital | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard		(6,318)		(6,318)
Cumulative Effect, Period of Adoption, Adjustment | General Partner | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard		$ (6,318)		$ (6,318)