Cover Page - USD ($) $ in Billions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Feb. 22, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Entity Information
Document Type	10-K
Document Annual Report	true
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2020
Document Transition Report	false
Entity File Number	001-32336
Entity Registrant Name	DIGITAL REALTY TRUST, INC.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MD
Entity Tax Identification Number	26-0081711
Entity Address, Address Line One	5707 Southwest Parkway, Building 1, Suite 275
Entity Address, City or Town	Austin
Entity Address, State or Province	TX
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	78735
City Area Code	737
Local Phone Number	281-0101
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth	false
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	true
Entity Shell Company	false
Entity Public Float			$ 38
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		281,121,062
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Amendment Flag	false
Entity Central Index Key	0001297996
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Entity Information
Document Type	10-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2020
Entity File Number	000-54023
Entity Registrant Name	DIGITAL REALTY TRUST, L.P.
Entity Incorporation, State or Country Code	MD
Entity Tax Identification Number	20-2402955
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Interactive Data Current	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Non-accelerated Filer
Entity Small Business	false
Entity Emerging Growth	false
ICFR Auditor Attestation Flag	false
Entity Shell Company	false
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2020
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Entity Central Index Key	0001494877
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Common Stock
Entity Information
Title of 12(b) Security	Common Stock
Trading Symbol	DLR
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series C Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Stock
Entity Information
Title of 12(b) Security	Series C Cumulative Redeemable PerpetualPreferred Stock
Trading Symbol	DLR Pr C
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Entity Information
Title of 12(b) Security	Series J Cumulative Redeemable PreferredStock
Trading Symbol	DLR Pr J
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Entity Information
Title of 12(b) Security	Series K Cumulative Redeemable PreferredStock
Trading Symbol	DLR Pr K
Security Exchange Name	NYSE
Series L Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Entity Information
Title of 12(b) Security	Series L Cumulative Redeemable PreferredStock
Trading Symbol	DLR Pr L
Security Exchange Name	NYSE