Debt of the Operating Partnership (Unsecured Term Loans) (Narrative) (Details) - Digital Realty Trust, L.P. - USD ($) $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
Sep. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 12,984,735
Unsecured term loans, net
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 513,747
2023 and 2024 Term Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Interest rate basis spread	1.00%
2023 and 2024 Term Loan \| Unsecured term loans, net
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 513,747	$ 813,205

Amount, before unamortized (discount) premium and debt issuance costs, of long-term debt. Includes, but is not limited to, notes payable, bonds payable, commercial loans, mortgage loans, convertible debt, subordinated debt and other types of debt.

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 470
-SubTopic 20
-Section 50
-Paragraph 4
-Subparagraph (b)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120520924&loc=SL6031897-161870

Reference 2: 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(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120400017&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02(22))
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Reference 4: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
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-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
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-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120398452&loc=d3e534808-122878

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