Cover Page - shares	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Nov. 04, 2020
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Quarterly Report	true
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-32336
Entity Registrant Name	DIGITAL REALTY TRUST, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MD
Entity Tax Identification Number	26-0081711
Entity Address, Address Line One	Four Embarcadero Center, Suite 3200
Entity Address, City or Town	San Francisco
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	94111
City Area Code	415
Local Phone Number	738-6500
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		280,165,183
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0001297996
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Entity Information [Line Items]
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Sep. 30, 2020
Entity File Number	000-54023
Entity Registrant Name	DIGITAL REALTY TRUST, L.P.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MD
Entity Tax Identification Number	20-2402955
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q3
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0001494877
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Common Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock
Trading Symbol	DLR
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Potentially dilutive Series C Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Series C Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock
Trading Symbol	DLR Pr C
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Potentially dilutive Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Trading Symbol	DLR Pr J
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Potentially dilutive Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Trading Symbol	DLR Pr K
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Potentially dilutive Series L Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Entity Information [Line Items]
Title of 12(b) Security	Series L Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Trading Symbol	DLR Pr L
Security Exchange Name	NYSE