Quarterly Financial Information Digital Realty Trust, Inc. (unaudited) - Summary Of Selected Quarterly Financial Data (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended								12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Quarterly Financial Information (unaudited)
Revenues	$ 1,062,609	$ 1,024,668	$ 992,995	$ 823,337	$ 787,463	$ 806,466	$ 800,797	$ 814,515	$ 3,903,609	$ 3,209,241	$ 3,046,478
Net (loss) income	59,508	(1,454)	75,978	228,698	349,326	67,574	61,324	120,997	362,730	599,221	341,115
Net income (loss) attributable to Digital Realty Trust, L.P.	57,691	(138)	74,831	224,014	336,284	66,497	60,168	116,812	356,398	579,761	331,246
Preferred stock dividends and issuance costs associated with redeemed preferred stock	(13,514)	(37,232)	(21,155)	(21,155)	(20,707)	(16,670)	(28,430)	(20,943)
Net income available to common stockholders	$ 44,177	$ (37,370)	$ 53,676	$ 202,859	$ 315,577	$ 49,827	$ 31,738	$ 95,869	$ 263,342	$ 493,011	$ 249,930
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.16	$ (0.14)	$ 0.20	$ 0.91	$ 1.51	$ 0.24	$ 0.15	$ 0.46	$ 1.01	$ 2.37	$ 1.21
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.16	$ (0.14)	$ 0.20	$ 0.90	$ 1.50	$ 0.24	$ 0.15	$ 0.46	$ 1.00	$ 2.35	$ 1.21