Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - Schedule of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Reclassification of foreign currency translation adjustment due to deconsolidation of Ascenty		$ 21,687
Foreign currency translation adjustments
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Net current period change	$ 213,707	22,015
Reclassification of foreign currency translation adjustment due to deconsolidation of Ascenty		21,687
Reclassification to interest expense from interest rate swaps	0	0
Cash flow hedge adjustments
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Net current period change	(11,980)	(8,839)
Reclassification to interest expense from interest rate swaps	8,063	(7,138)
Foreign currency net investment hedge adjustments
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Net current period change	13,142	0
Reclassification of foreign currency translation adjustment due to deconsolidation of Ascenty		0
Reclassification to interest expense from interest rate swaps	0	0
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Net current period change	214,869	13,176
Reclassification of foreign currency translation adjustment due to deconsolidation of Ascenty		21,687
Reclassification to interest expense from interest rate swaps	8,063	(7,138)
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	10,608,100	10,858,210
Reclassification of foreign currency translation adjustment due to deconsolidation of Ascenty		21,687
Ending balance	18,446,336	10,608,100
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Foreign currency translation adjustments
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(117,869)	(163,531)
Net current period change	216,815	23,975
Reclassification of foreign currency translation adjustment due to deconsolidation of Ascenty		21,687
Reclassification to interest expense from interest rate swaps	0	0
Ending balance	98,946	(117,869)
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Cash flow hedge adjustments
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	308	16,986
Net current period change	(12,425)	(9,232)
Reclassification to interest expense from interest rate swaps	8,294	(7,446)
Ending balance	(3,823)	308
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Foreign currency net investment hedge adjustments
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	26,152	26,152
Net current period change	13,525	0
Reclassification of foreign currency translation adjustment due to deconsolidation of Ascenty		0
Reclassification to interest expense from interest rate swaps	0	0
Ending balance	39,677	26,152
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(91,409)	(120,393)
Net current period change	217,915	14,743
Reclassification of foreign currency translation adjustment due to deconsolidation of Ascenty		21,687
Reclassification to interest expense from interest rate swaps	8,294	(7,446)
Ending balance	$ 134,800	$ (91,409)