CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CAPITAL (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 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			$ 80,586	$ 163,861
Common units and share-based awards issued in connection with InterXion combination			6,985,052
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan	$ 3,865	$ 3,203	6,503	5,462
Units repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting	(3,820)		(8,570)
Issuance of preferred units, net of offering costs				203,264
Redemption of preferred units				(365,050)
Amortization of share-based compensation	20,334	9,913	58,064	28,774
Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interests	(726)	(1,876)	(4,217)	(3,630)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of distributions	43,663		87,645	60,961
Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard	18,398,487	10,210,855	18,398,487	10,210,855
Deconsolidation of consolidated joint venture		(110,086)		(110,086)
Net (loss) income	(1,454)	67,574	303,222	249,895
Net income (loss)	(1,107)	67,535	306,757	249,760
Other comprehensive income (loss)-foreign currency translation adjustments	233,747	24,668	(34,796)	66,511
Decrease in other assets related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	137	(1,000)	(12,711)	(11,379)
Other comprehensive income-fair value of interest rate swaps				(6,055)
Reclassification to interest expense from interest rate swaps	$ 7,673	(1,805)	$ 7,899	(6,055)
Ending balance (units)	279,920,621		279,920,621
Interest Rate Swap
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income-fair value of interest rate swaps	$ 138	(1,000)	$ (12,711)	(11,379)
Potentially dilutive Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Reclassification of units to accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(250,000)		(250,000)	0
Potentially dilutive Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Redemption of preferred units	(250,000)		(250,000)
Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Joint Ventures
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of distributions	43,663		87,645	60,961
Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard	107,966	42,349	107,966	42,349
Deconsolidation of consolidated joint venture		(110,086)		(110,086)
Net income (loss)	12	(1,223)	(304)	(1,582)
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	17,682,649	10,473,720	10,608,100	10,858,210
Common units and share-based awards issued in connection with InterXion combination			6,985,052
Issuance of common unit, net of offering costs	1,245,103		1,889,734
Payment of offering costs		(282)		(1,258)
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan	3,865	3,203	6,503	5,462
Units repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting	(3,820)		(7,320)
Issuance of preferred units, net of offering costs				203,264
Redemption of preferred units				(365,050)
Amortization of share-based compensation	20,334	9,913	56,814	28,774
Adjustment to redeemable partnership units	726	(1,876)	(4,217)	3,630
Distributions	(333,032)	(251,348)	(990,973)	(758,311)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of distributions	43,663		87,645
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of contributions		(1,787)		60,961
Deconsolidation of consolidated joint venture		(110,086)		(110,086)
Net (loss) income	(1,454)	67,574	303,222	249,895
Net income (loss)	(1,107)	67,535	306,757	249,760
Other comprehensive income (loss)-foreign currency translation adjustments	233,747	24,668	(34,796)	66,511
Decrease in other assets related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	137	(1,000)	(12,711)	(11,379)
Other comprehensive income-fair value of interest rate swaps			(12,711)
Reclassification to interest expense from interest rate swaps	7,673	(1,805)	7,899	(6,055)
Ending balance	18,398,487	10,210,855	18,398,487	10,210,855
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Interest Rate Swap
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income-fair value of interest rate swaps	138	(1,000)		(11,379)
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Potentially dilutive Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Reclassification of units to accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(250,000)		(250,000)	0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Potentially dilutive Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Redemption of preferred units	(250,000)		(250,000)
Redeemable Interests | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	40,584	17,344	41,465	15,832
Adjustment to redeemable partnership units	(726)	1,876	4,217	(3,630)
Distributions	(175)	(169)	(525)	(507)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of distributions	522		2,089
Net income (loss)	(347)	39	(3,535)	135
Other comprehensive income (loss)-foreign currency translation adjustments	(45)		(2,446)
Ending balance	41,265	19,090	41,265	19,090
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(372,575)	(93,179)	(91,409)	(120,393)
Other comprehensive income (loss)-foreign currency translation adjustments	233,747	24,668	(34,796)	66,511
Other comprehensive income-fair value of interest rate swaps			(12,711)
Reclassification to interest expense from interest rate swaps	7,673	(1,805)	7,899	(6,055)
Ending balance	(131,017)	(71,316)	(131,017)	(71,316)
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Interest Rate Swap
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income-fair value of interest rate swaps	138	(1,000)		(11,379)
Total Partners' Capital | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	17,618,358	10,318,275	10,587,475	10,765,154
Common units and share-based awards issued in connection with InterXion combination			6,985,052
Issuance of common unit, net of offering costs	1,245,103		1,889,734
Payment of offering costs		(282)		(1,258)
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan	3,865	3,203	6,503	5,462
Units repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting	(3,820)		(7,320)
Issuance of preferred units, net of offering costs				203,264
Redemption of preferred units				(365,050)
Amortization of share-based compensation	20,334	9,913	56,814	28,774
Adjustment to redeemable partnership units	726	(1,876)	(4,217)	3,630
Distributions	(333,032)	(251,348)	(990,973)	(758,311)
Net income (loss)	(1,119)	68,758	307,061	251,342
Other comprehensive income (loss)-foreign currency translation adjustments	233,747	24,668	(34,796)	66,511
Other comprehensive income-fair value of interest rate swaps			(12,711)
Reclassification to interest expense from interest rate swaps	7,673	(1,805)	7,899	(6,055)
Ending balance	18,290,521	10,168,506	18,290,521	10,168,506
Total Partners' Capital | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Interest Rate Swap
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income-fair value of interest rate swaps	138	(1,000)		(11,379)
Total Partners' Capital | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Potentially dilutive Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Reclassification of units to accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(250,000)		(250,000)
Total Partners' Capital | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Potentially dilutive Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Redemption of preferred units	(250,000)		(250,000)
Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Joint Ventures | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	64,291	155,445	20,625	93,056
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of distributions	43,663		87,645
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of contributions		(1,787)		60,961
Deconsolidation of consolidated joint venture		(110,086)		(110,086)
Net income (loss)	12	(1,223)	(304)	(1,582)
Other comprehensive income (loss)-foreign currency translation adjustments	0	0
Ending balance	107,966	42,349	107,966	42,349
General Partner | Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 1,434,420	$ 1,099,534	$ 1,434,420	$ 1,249,560
Beginning balance (units)	58,250,000	44,450,000	58,250,000	50,650,000
Issuance of preferred units, net of offering costs				$ 203,264
Issuance of preferred units, net of offering costs (units)				8,400,000
Redemption of preferred units				$ (353,290)
Redemption of preferred units (in units)				(14,600,000)
Distributions	$ (20,712)	$ (16,670)	$ (63,022)	$ (54,283)
Net income (loss)	20,712	16,670	63,022	54,283
Ending balance	$ 950,940	$ 1,099,534	$ 950,940	$ 1,099,534
Ending balance (units)	38,250,000	44,450,000	38,250,000	44,450,000
General Partner | Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Potentially dilutive Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Reclassification of units to accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	$ (241,468)		$ (241,468)
Reclassification of units to accounts payable and other accrued liabilities (in units)	(10,000,000)		(10,000,000)
General Partner | Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Potentially dilutive Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Redemption of preferred units	$ (242,012)		$ (242,012)
Redemption of preferred units (in units)	(10,000,000)		(10,000,000)
General Partner | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 15,908,456	$ 8,552,279	$ 8,532,814	$ 8,724,731
Beginning balance (units)	268,399,073	208,324,538	208,900,758	206,425,656
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units	$ 10,304	$ 18,755	$ 80,586	$ 163,861
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)	121,967	218,752	927,779	1,841,692
Common units and share-based awards issued in connection with InterXion combination			$ 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)		1,414		252,122
Issuance of common unit, net of offering costs	$ 1,245,103		$ 1,889,734
Issuance of common units, net of offering costs (in units)	11,329,722		15,915,673
Payment of offering costs		$ (282)		$ (1,258)
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan	$ 3,865	$ 3,203	$ 6,503	$ 5,462
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan (units)	32,902	38,540	58,136	63,774
Units repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting	$ (3,820)		$ (7,320)
Redemption of preferred units				$ (11,760)
Vesting of restricted common units, net (units)	36,957		(180,320)
Amortization of share-based compensation	$ 20,334	$ 9,913	$ 56,814	28,774
Reclassification of vested share-based awards	(612)	(250)	(17,116)	(7,962)
Adjustment to redeemable partnership units	726	(1,876)	(4,217)	3,630
Distributions	(303,006)	(225,188)	(899,487)	(674,713)
Net income (loss)	(20,850)	49,827	235,685	189,194
Ending balance	$ 16,842,528	$ 8,406,381	$ 16,842,528	$ 8,406,381
Ending balance (units)	279,920,621	208,583,244	279,920,621	208,583,244
General Partner | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Potentially dilutive Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Reclassification of units to accounts payable and other accrued liabilities			$ (8,532)
Redemption of preferred units (in units)	(8,532,000)
General Partner | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Potentially dilutive Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Redemption of preferred units	$ (7,988)		(7,988)
Limited Partners | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 648,057	$ 759,641	$ 711,650	$ 911,256
Beginning balance (units)	8,287,819	9,370,049	8,843,155	10,580,884
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units	$ (10,304)	$ (18,755)	$ (80,586)	$ (163,861)
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)	(121,967)	(218,752)	(927,779)	(1,841,692)
Issuance of common units, net of forfeitures (units)	809	(7,316)	251,285	404,789
Reclassification of vested share-based awards	$ 612	$ 250	$ 17,116	$ 7,962
Distributions	(9,314)	(9,490)	(28,464)	(29,315)
Net income (loss)	(981)	2,261	8,354	7,865
Ending balance	$ 628,070	$ 733,907	$ 628,070	$ 733,907
Ending balance (units)	8,166,661	9,143,981	8,166,661	9,143,981
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)