Represents the number of powered base buildings held for sale.

No definition available.

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Namespace Prefix:	dlr_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
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- Definition

The number of properties sold.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	dlr_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number of Real Estate Properties Reclassified to Held to Sale

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dlr_NumberOfRealEstatePropertiesReclassifiedToHeldToSale
Namespace Prefix:	dlr_
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Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Period of time that transitional property management services will be provided after closing date of sale of property.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dlr_PeriodOfTransitionalPropertyManagementServices
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- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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- Definition

Amount of consideration received or receivable for the disposal of assets and liabilities, including discontinued operation.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Amount before tax of gain (loss) recognized on the sale or disposal of a disposal group. Excludes discontinued operations.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 5
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109226348&loc=d3e2443-110228

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2009/role/commonPracticeRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 28
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=121586364&loc=d3e3602-108585

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 360
-SubTopic 10
-Section 50
-Paragraph 3
-Subparagraph (c)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=109226691&loc=d3e2941-110230

+ Details

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

- Definition

Carrying amount as of the balance sheet date of investments in land and buildings held for sale, excluding real estate considered to be inventory of the entity.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03.1(f))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120400017&loc=d3e572229-122910

+ Details

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Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

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- Details

Name:	srt_RealEstateAndAccumulatedDepreciationDescriptionOfPropertyAxis=dlr_Liverpoolweg10Member
Namespace Prefix:
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Real Estate (Held for Sale) (Details)			1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended
Real Estate (Held for Sale) (Details)	Jul. 17, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 16, 2019 USD ($) property	Jan. 31, 2020 USD ($) property	Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019 USD ($) property
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of powered base buildings		10
Period of transitional property management services provided after closing on sale of real estate				1 year
Data Centers \| 10 Powered Base Building \| Disposal Group, Held-for-sale, Not Discontinued Operations
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of properties, classified as held for sale \| property					12
Purchase consideration receivable		$ 557,000,000.0
Number of properties sold \| property		12	12
Gain (loss) on sale			$ 304,800,000
Data Centers \| 10 Powered Base Building \| Disposal Group, Held-for-sale, Not Discontinued Operations \| Assets Held For Sale
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Carrying value of real estate held-for-sale					$ 229,900,000
Data Centers \| 10 Powered Base Building \| Disposal Group, Held-for-sale, Not Discontinued Operations \| Obligations Associated With Assets Held For Sale
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Carrying value of real estate held-for-sale					$ 2,700,000
Data Centers \| United States.
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Number of properties, classified as held for sale \| property		12
Liverpoolweg 10
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Purchase consideration receivable	$ 21,500,000
Gain (loss) on sale	$ 10,400,000