CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss) income	$ (1,454)	$ 67,574	$ 303,222	$ 249,895
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on deconsolidation / disposition of properties, net			(315,211)	(67,497)
Gain on sale of marketable equity security			(17,883)	0
Unrealized gain on marketable equity security			(3,289)	(34,931)
Impairment of investments in real estate	6,482	0	6,482	5,351
Equity in loss of unconsolidated joint ventures	2,056	19,269	88,684	3,090
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures			18,939	26,739
Write-off due to early lease terminations			433	9,633
Depreciation and amortization of buildings and improvements, tenant improvements and acquired ground leases			737,620	612,678
Amortization of customer relationship value, acquired in-place lease value and deferred leasing costs			268,844	276,088
Amortization of share-based compensation			54,938	25,966
Non-cash amortization of terminated swaps			786	785
Allowance for doubtful accounts			5,669	1,871
Amortization of deferred financing costs			11,576	10,299
Loss from early extinguishment of debt			53,639	4,090
Amortization of debt discount/premium			2,887	1,671
Amortization of acquired above-market leases and acquired below-market leases, net			9,447	12,988
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts and other receivables			(26,040)	(37,510)
Deferred rent			(18,311)	(40,356)
Deferred leasing costs			(29,860)	(20,960)
Other assets			(28,872)	(25,397)
Accounts payable, operating lease liabilities and other accrued liabilities			56,427	100,495
Security deposits and prepaid rents			612	(3,044)
Net cash provided by operating activities			1,180,739	1,111,944
Cash flows from investing activities:
Improvements to investments in real estate			(1,376,795)	(1,125,772)
Deconsolidation of Ascenty cash			0	(97,081)
Proceeds from joint ventures transactions			0	702,439
Proceeds from sale of marketable equity security		0	70,019	0
Cash assumed in acquisitions			116,738	0
Acquisitions of real estate			(613,384)	(74,973)
Proceeds from sale of assets, net of sales costs			547,913	0
Prepaid construction costs and other investments			(130,505)	(15,072)
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures			(128,898)	(81,423)
Improvement advances to tenants			(72,902)	(37,785)
Collection of improvement advances to tenants			68,295	21,611
Net cash used in investing activities			(1,519,519)	(708,056)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on global revolving credit facilities			2,865,406	2,876,819
Repayments on global revolving credit facilities			(3,094,273)	(2,674,931)
Repayments on unsecured term loans			(300,000)	(375,000)
Borrowings on unsecured senior notes			3,573,121	2,325,566
Repayments on unsecured senior notes			(2,235,272)	(1,539,613)
Principal payments on secured debt			(1,090)	(478)
Payment of loan fees and costs			(21,732)	(16,843)
Premium paid for early extinguishment of debt			(48,191)	(35,067)
Capital contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net			81,061	60,961
Proceeds from common and preferred stock offerings, net			1,881,164	202,006
Redemption of preferred stock			(250,000)	(365,050)
Proceeds from equity plans			6,503	5,462
Payment of dividends to preferred stockholders			(63,022)	(54,283)
Payment of dividends to common stockholders and distributions to noncontrolling interests in operating partnership			(1,162,525)	(921,776)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			1,231,150	(512,227)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash			892,370	(108,339)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash			(3,034)	(11,479)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period			97,253	135,222
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	986,589	15,404	986,589	15,404
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized			261,272	262,532
Cash paid for income taxes			15,317	13,187
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in net assets related to foreign currency translation adjustments			(34,796)	66,511
Distributions declared and payable to preferred unitholders			571	0
Decrease in other assets related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	137	(1,000)	(12,711)	(11,379)
Noncontrolling interests in operating partnership converted to shares of common stock			80,586	163,861
Accrual for additions to investments in real estate and tenant improvement advances included in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities			204,906	171,670
Decrease to goodwill and deferred tax liability (classified within accounts payable and other accrued liabilities)				(9,436)
Allocation of purchase price of real estate/investment in partnership to:
Investment in real estate			372,516	0
Cash and cash equivalents			8,190	0
Account receivables			3,114	0
Customer relationship value and intangibles			68,406	0
Other assets			843	0
Secured debt			(135,000)	0
Accounts payables and other accrued liabilities			(4,602)	0
Acquired below-market leases			(2,540)	0
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint venture			(5,715)	0
Cash paid for acquisition of real estate			305,212	0
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net	1,363,285		1,363,285
Finance lease obligations	(47,957)		(47,957)
Deconsolidation of Ascenty and consolidated joint venture:
Investment in real estate	(20,462,514)		(20,462,514)
Account receivables	(585,506)		(585,506)
Goodwill	(8,012,256)		(8,012,256)
Other assets	(373,346)		(373,346)
Secured debt	238,866		238,866
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	2,187,025		2,187,025
Non-controlling interest in consolidated joint venture	1,059,978		1,059,978
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(123,623)		(123,623)
Deconsolidation of Ascenty cash			0	(97,081)
Potentially dilutive Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Preferred stock redemption declared (classified with accounts payable and other accrued liabilities)	250,000		250,000	0
InterXion
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Land	159,467	0	159,467	0
Building and improvements	3,246,522	0	3,246,522	0
Construction in progress	273,590	0	273,590	0
Land held for development	33,447	0	33,447	0
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net	556,865	0	556,865	0
Cash and cash equivalents	108,548	0	108,548	0
Accounts receivable	218,868	0	218,868	0
Goodwill	4,443,856	0	4,443,856	0
Customer relationship value	1,001,568	0	1,001,568	0
Other intangibles	44,943		44,943
Operating lease liabilities	(556,865)	0	(556,865)	0
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(230,585)	0	(230,585)	0
Deferred tax liability	(535,990)	0	(535,990)	0
Other working capital liabilities, net	(68,947)	0	(68,947)	0
Deconsolidation of Ascenty and consolidated joint venture:
Goodwill	(4,615,111)		(4,615,111)
InterXion | Global revolving credit facilities, net
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Long term debt	(130,327)	0	(130,327)	0
InterXion | Unsecured Debt
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Long term debt	(1,457,635)	0	(1,457,635)	0
InterXion | Secured Debt
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Long term debt	(74,316)	0	(74,316)	0
Preferred Stock | Potentially dilutive Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Preferred stock redemption declared (classified with accounts payable and other accrued liabilities)	241,468		241,468
Preferred Stock | InterXion
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Equity consideration			6,985,052	0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net (loss) income	(1,454)	67,574	303,222	249,895
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on deconsolidation / disposition of properties, net			(315,211)	(67,497)
Gain on sale of marketable equity security			(17,883)	0
Unrealized gain on marketable equity security			(3,289)	(34,931)
Impairment of investments in real estate	6,482	0	6,482	5,351
Equity in loss of unconsolidated joint ventures	2,056	19,269	88,684	3,090
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures			18,939	26,739
Write-off due to early lease terminations			433	9,633
Depreciation and amortization of buildings and improvements, tenant improvements and acquired ground leases			737,620	612,678
Amortization of customer relationship value, acquired in-place lease value and deferred leasing costs			268,844	276,088
Amortization of share-based compensation			54,938	25,966
Non-cash amortization of terminated swaps			786	785
Allowance for doubtful accounts			5,669	1,871
Amortization of deferred financing costs			11,576	10,299
Loss from early extinguishment of debt			53,639	4,090
Amortization of debt discount/premium			2,887	1,671
Amortization of acquired above-market leases and acquired below-market leases, net			9,447	12,988
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts and other receivables			(26,040)	(37,510)
Deferred rent			(18,311)	(40,356)
Deferred leasing costs			(29,860)	(20,960)
Other assets			(28,872)	(25,397)
Accounts payable, operating lease liabilities and other accrued liabilities			56,427	100,495
Security deposits and prepaid rents			612	(3,044)
Net cash provided by operating activities			1,180,739	1,111,944
Cash flows from investing activities:
Improvements to investments in real estate			(1,376,795)	(1,125,772)
Deconsolidation of Ascenty cash			0	(97,081)
Proceeds from joint ventures transactions			0	702,439
Proceeds from sale of marketable equity security			70,019	0
Cash assumed in acquisitions			116,738	0
Acquisitions of real estate			(613,384)	(74,973)
Proceeds from sale of assets, net of sales costs			547,913	0
Prepaid construction costs and other investments			(130,505)	(15,072)
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures			(128,898)	(81,423)
Improvement advances to tenants			(72,902)	(37,785)
Collection of improvement advances to tenants			68,295	21,611
Net cash used in investing activities			(1,519,519)	(708,056)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on global revolving credit facilities			2,865,406	2,876,819
Repayments on global revolving credit facilities			(3,094,273)	(2,674,931)
Repayments on unsecured term loans			(300,000)	(375,000)
Borrowings on unsecured senior notes			3,573,121	2,325,566
Repayments on unsecured senior notes			(2,235,272)	(1,539,613)
Principal payments on secured debt			(1,090)	(478)
Payment of loan fees and costs			(21,732)	(16,843)
Premium paid for early extinguishment of debt			(48,191)	(35,067)
Capital contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net			81,061	60,961
General partner contributions			1,887,667	207,468
General partner distributions			(250,000)	(365,050)
Payment of dividends to preferred stockholders			(63,022)	(54,283)
Payment of dividends to common stockholders and distributions to noncontrolling interests in operating partnership			(1,162,525)	(921,776)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			1,231,150	(512,227)
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash			892,370	(108,339)
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash			(3,034)	(11,479)
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period			97,253	135,222
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period	986,589	15,404	986,589	15,404
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized			261,272	262,532
Cash paid for income taxes			15,317	13,187
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in net assets related to foreign currency translation adjustments			(34,796)	66,511
Distributions declared and payable to preferred unitholders			571	0
Decrease in other assets related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	137	(1,000)	(12,711)	(11,379)
Limited Partner common units converted to General Partner common units			80,586	163,861
Accrual for additions to investments in real estate and tenant improvement advances included in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities			204,906	171,670
Decrease to goodwill and deferred tax liability (classified within accounts payable and other accrued liabilities)			0	(9,436)
Allocation of purchase price of real estate/investment in partnership to:
Investment in real estate			372,516	0
Cash and cash equivalents			8,190	0
Account receivables			3,114	0
Customer relationship value and intangibles			68,406	0
Other assets			843	0
Secured debt			(135,000)	0
Accounts payables and other accrued liabilities			(4,602)	0
Acquired below-market leases			(2,540)	0
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint venture			(5,715)	0
Cash paid for acquisition of real estate			305,212	0
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net	1,363,285		1,363,285
Other intangibles	44,943	0	44,943	0
Finance lease obligations	(47,957)		(47,957)
Deconsolidation of Ascenty and consolidated joint venture:
Investment in real estate	(20,462,514)		(20,462,514)
Account receivables	(585,506)		(585,506)
Goodwill	(8,012,256)		(8,012,256)
Other assets	(373,346)		(373,346)
Secured debt	238,866		238,866
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	2,187,025		2,187,025
Non-controlling interest in consolidated joint venture	1,059,978		1,059,978
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(131,017)		(131,017)
Deconsolidation of Ascenty cash			0	(97,081)
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Potentially dilutive Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Preferred stock redemption declared (classified with accounts payable and other accrued liabilities)	250,000		250,000	0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | InterXion
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Land	159,467	0	159,467	0
Building and improvements	3,246,522	0	3,246,522	0
Construction in progress	273,590	0	273,590	0
Land held for development	33,447	0	33,447	0
Operating lease right-of-use assets, net	556,865	0	556,865	0
Cash and cash equivalents	108,548	0	108,548	0
Accounts receivable	218,868	0	218,868	0
Goodwill	4,443,856	0	4,443,856	0
Long term debt	(130,327)	0	(130,327)	0
Operating lease liabilities	(556,865)	0	(556,865)	0
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(230,585)	0	(230,585)	0
Deferred tax liability	(535,990)	0	(535,990)	0
Other working capital liabilities, net	(68,947)	0	(68,947)	0
Equity consideration			6,985,052	0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | InterXion | Global revolving credit facilities, net
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Customer relationship value	1,001,568	0	1,001,568	0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | InterXion | Unsecured Debt
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Long term debt	(1,457,635)	0	(1,457,635)	0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | InterXion | Mortgage notes payable and unsecured debt
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Long term debt	$ (74,316)	0	$ (74,316)	0
Ascenty Acquisition
Cash flows from investing activities:
Deconsolidation of Ascenty cash				(97,081)
Contribution of assets and liabilities to unconsolidated joint venture:
Recognition of retained investment in unconsolidated joint ventures		727,439		727,439
Deconsolidation of Ascenty and consolidated joint venture:
Investment in real estate		(362,951)		(362,951)
Account receivables		(24,977)		(24,977)
Acquired in-place lease value, deferred leasing costs and intangibles		(480,128)		(480,128)
Goodwill		(967,189)		(967,189)
Other assets		(31,099)		(31,099)
Secured debt		571,873		571,873
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities		72,449		72,449
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net		(21,687)		(21,687)
Deconsolidation of Ascenty cash				(97,081)
Net carrying value of assets and liabilities contributed				(1,340,790)
Recognition of retained investment in unconsolidated joint ventures		727,439		727,439
Ascenty Acquisition | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Cash flows from investing activities:
Deconsolidation of Ascenty cash				(97,081)
Contribution of assets and liabilities to unconsolidated joint venture:
Recognition of retained investment in unconsolidated joint ventures		727,439		727,439
Deconsolidation of Ascenty and consolidated joint venture:
Investment in real estate		(362,951)		(362,951)
Account receivables		(24,977)		(24,977)
Acquired in-place lease value, deferred leasing costs and intangibles		(480,128)		(480,128)
Goodwill		(967,189)		(967,189)
Other assets		(31,099)		(31,099)
Secured debt		571,873		571,873
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities		72,449		72,449
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net		(21,687)		(21,687)
Deconsolidation of Ascenty cash				(97,081)
Net carrying value of assets and liabilities contributed				(1,340,790)
Recognition of retained investment in unconsolidated joint ventures		$ 727,439		$ 727,439