Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Schedule of Distributions (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands										12 Months Ended
	Oct. 15, 2020	Sep. 08, 2020	Oct. 10, 2019	Apr. 01, 2019	Mar. 13, 2019	Sep. 14, 2017	Aug. 07, 2017	Aug. 24, 2015	Apr. 09, 2013	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Redemption price (in dollars per share)										$ 25.00
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per share)										25.00	$ 25.00
Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)						$ 1.65625
Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)									$ 1.46875
Redemption price (in dollars per share)	$ 25.057118
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per share)	$ 25.00
Redemption premium	$ 8,200
Potentially dilutive Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Redemption price (in dollars per share)				$ 25.00
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per share)				$ 25.00
Redemption premium				$ 11,800
Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)								$ 1.58750
Redemption price (in dollars per share)		$ 25.29545
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per share)		$ 25.00
Redemption premium		$ 8,000
Series J Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)							$ 1.31250
Series K Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)					$ 1.46250
Series L Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)			$ 1.30000
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										$ 13,332	$ 13,332	$ 13,332
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	14,688	14,688
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)										$ 1.46875
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Potentially dilutive Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											6,730	26,920
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)										$ 1.84375
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										$ 7,938	15,876	15,876
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										$ 10,500	10,500	10,500
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										$ 12,284	9,828
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										$ 17,940	4,036
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										$ 1,251,403	$ 940,716	$ 867,405
Common stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)										$ 4.480	$ 4.320	$ 4.040
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year One | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										$ 3,333
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year One | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year One | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year One | Series J Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										2,625
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year One | Series K Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										3,071
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year One | Series L Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										4,485
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year One | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units										305,267
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year Three | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												$ 3,333
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year Three | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year Three | Potentially dilutive Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												6,730
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year Three | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year Three | Series J Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												2,625
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year Three | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units												216,953
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year Two | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											$ 3,333
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year Two | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year Two | Potentially dilutive Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											6,730
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year Two | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year Two | Series J Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											2,625
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 1 Year Two | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units											235,256
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year One | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										3,333
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year One | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year One | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year One | Series J Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										2,625
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year One | Series K Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										3,071
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year One | Series L Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										4,485
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year One | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units										310,421
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year Three | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												3,333
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year Three | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year Three | Potentially dilutive Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												6,730
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year Three | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year Three | Series J Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												2,625
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year Three | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units												216,789
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year Two | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											3,333
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year Two | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year Two | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year Two | Series J Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											2,625
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year Two | Series K Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											3,686
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 2 Year Two | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units											235,142
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year One | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										3,333
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year One | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year One | Series J Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										2,625
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year One | Series K Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										3,071
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year One | Series L Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										4,485
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year One | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units										312,262
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year Three | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												3,333
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year Three | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year Three | Potentially dilutive Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												6,730
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year Three | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year Three | Series J Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												2,625
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year Three | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units												216,825
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year Two | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											3,333
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year Two | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year Two | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year Two | Series J Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											2,625
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year Two | Series K Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											3,071
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 3 Year Two | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units											235,164
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year One | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										3,333
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year One | Series J Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										2,625
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year One | Series K Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										3,071
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year One | Series L Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units										4,485
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year One | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units										$ 323,453
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year Three | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												3,333
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year Three | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year Three | Potentially dilutive Series H Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												6,730
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year Three | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year Three | Series J Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units												2,625
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year Three | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units												$ 216,838
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year Two | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											3,333
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year Two | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year Two | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year Two | Series J Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											2,625
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year Two | Series K Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											3,071
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year Two | Series L Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units											4,036
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Installment 4 Year Two | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units											$ 235,154