CONSOLIDATED INCOME STATEMENTS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Operating Revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 3,903,609	$ 3,209,241	$ 3,046,478
Operating Expenses:
Rental property operating and maintenance	1,331,493	1,020,578	957,065
Property taxes and insurance	182,623	172,183	140,918
Depreciation and amortization	1,366,379	1,163,774	1,186,896
General and administrative	351,369	211,097	163,667
Transactions and integration	106,662	27,925	45,327
Impairment of investments in real estate	6,482	5,351
Other	1,075	14,118	2,818
Total operating expenses	3,346,083	2,615,026	2,496,691
Operating income	557,526	594,215	549,787
Other Income (Expenses):
Equity in (loss) earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	(57,629)	8,067	32,979
Gain on disposition of properties, net	316,894	267,651	80,049
Gain on deconsolidation, net		67,497
Interest and other income, net	20,222	66,000	3,481
Interest expense	(333,021)	(353,057)	(321,529)
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	(103,215)	(39,157)	(1,568)
Income tax expense	(38,047)	(11,995)	(2,084)
Net income	362,730	599,221	341,115
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	(6,332)	(19,460)	(9,869)
Net income attributable to Digital Realty Trust, Inc./Digital Realty Trust, L.P.	356,398	579,761	331,246
Preferred stock dividends, including undeclared dividends	(76,536)	(74,990)	(81,316)
Issuance costs associated with redeemed preferred stock	(16,520)	(11,760)
Net income available to common stockholders	$ 263,342	$ 493,011	$ 249,930
Net income per share available to common stockholders:
Basic (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 1.01	$ 2.37	$ 1.21
Diluted (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 1.00	$ 2.35	$ 1.21
Weighted average common shares/ units outstanding:
Basic (shares/units)	260,098,978	208,325,823	206,035,408
Diluted (shares/units)	262,522,508	209,462,247	206,673,471
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Operating Revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 3,903,609	$ 3,209,241	$ 3,046,478
Operating Expenses:
Rental property operating and maintenance	1,331,493	1,020,578	957,065
Property taxes and insurance	182,623	172,183	140,918
Depreciation and amortization	1,366,379	1,163,774	1,186,896
General and administrative	351,369	211,097	163,667
Transactions and integration	106,662	27,925	45,327
Impairment of investments in real estate	6,482	5,351
Other	1,075	14,118	2,818
Total operating expenses	3,346,083	2,615,026	2,496,691
Operating income	557,526	594,215	549,787
Other Income (Expenses):
Equity in (loss) earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	(57,629)	8,067	32,979
Gain on disposition of properties, net	316,894	267,651	80,049
Gain on deconsolidation, net		67,497
Interest and other income, net	20,222	66,000	3,481
Interest expense	(333,021)	(353,057)	(321,529)
Loss from early extinguishment of debt	(103,215)	(39,157)	(1,568)
Income tax expense	(38,047)	(11,995)	(2,084)
Net income	362,730	599,221	341,115
Net income attributable to noncontrolling interests	3,168	1,640	311
Net income attributable to Digital Realty Trust, Inc./Digital Realty Trust, L.P.	365,898	600,861	341,426
Preferred stock dividends, including undeclared dividends	(76,536)	(74,990)	(81,316)
Issuance costs associated with redeemed preferred stock	(16,520)	(11,760)
Net income available to common stockholders	$ 272,842	$ 514,111	$ 260,110
Net income per share available to common stockholders:
Basic (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 1.02	$ 2.37	$ 1.21
Diluted (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 1.01	$ 2.35	$ 1.21
Weighted average common shares/ units outstanding:
Basic (shares/units)	268,072,983	217,284,755	214,312,871
Diluted (shares/units)	270,496,513	218,421,179	214,950,934
Rental and other services
Operating Revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 3,886,546	$ 3,196,356	$ 2,412,076
Rental and other services | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Operating Revenues:
Total operating revenues	3,886,546	3,196,356	2,412,076
Tenant reimbursements
Operating Revenues:
Total operating revenues			624,637
Tenant reimbursements | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Operating Revenues:
Total operating revenues			624,637
Fee income and other
Operating Revenues:
Total operating revenues	17,063	12,885	9,765
Fee income and other | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Operating Revenues:
Total operating revenues	$ 17,063	$ 12,885	$ 9,765