Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Schedule of Distributions) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Oct. 01, 2020	Sep. 15, 2020	Sep. 08, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per share)	$ 25.00				$ 25.00
Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Redemption price (in dollars per share)			$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per share)		$ 0.057118		$ 25.29545
Offering costs	$ 8,200			$ 8,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per share)	$ 25.00				$ 25.00
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	$ 9,999
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 1.65625
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	$ 11,016
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 1.46875
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	$ 7,938
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 1.58750
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series J Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	$ 7,875
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 1.31250
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series K Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	$ 9,213
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 1.46250
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series L Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	$ 13,455
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 1.30000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units	$ 927,950
Common stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 4.48000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | February 26, 2020 | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	$ 3,333
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | February 26, 2020 | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | February 26, 2020 | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | February 26, 2020 | Series J Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	2,625
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | February 26, 2020 | Series K Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,071
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | February 26, 2020 | Series L Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	4,485
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | February 26, 2020 | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units	305,267
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | May 12, 2020 | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,333
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | May 12, 2020 | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | May 12, 2020 | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | May 12, 2020 | Series J Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	2,625
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | May 12, 2020 | Series K Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,071
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | May 12, 2020 | Series L Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	4,485
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | May 12, 2020 | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units	310,421
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | August 11, 2020 | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,333
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | August 11, 2020 | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | August 11, 2020 | Series J Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	2,625
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | August 11, 2020 | Series K Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,071
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | August 11, 2020 | Series L Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	4,485
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | August 11, 2020 | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units	$ 312,262