CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 59,508	$ 349,326	$ 362,730	$ 599,221	$ 341,115
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on disposition of properties / deconsolidation, net			(316,894)	(335,148)	(80,049)
Gain on sale of marketable equity security			(17,883)
Unrealized gain on marketable equity security			(577)	(46,492)	(1,631)
Impairment of investments in real estate			6,482	5,351
Equity in loss (earnings) of unconsolidated joint ventures			57,629	(8,067)	(32,979)
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures			39,878	44,293	21,905
Write-off due to early lease terminations			9	11,400	2,818
Depreciation and amortization of buildings and improvements, tenant improvements and acquired ground leases			1,010,538	809,472	770,275
Amortization of customer relationship value, acquired in-place lease value and deferred leasing costs			355,841	354,302	416,621
Amortization of share-based compensation			74,577	34,905	27,159
Non-cash amortization of terminated swaps			1,046	1,047	1,120
Allowance for doubtful accounts			6,480	2,159	6,304
Amortization of deferred financing costs			15,286	13,362	11,537
Loss from early extinguishment of debt			103,215	39,157	1,568
Amortization of debt discount/premium			3,916	2,260	3,538
Amortization of acquired above-market leases and acquired below-market leases, net			12,686	17,097	26,530
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts and other receivables			2,432	(8,435)	(21,318)
Deferred rent			(30,430)	(47,858)	(39,905)
Deferred leasing costs			(60,966)	(31,270)	(72,104)
Other assets			(14,363)	(15,599)	(9,145)
Accounts payable, operating lease liabilities and other accrued liabilities			72,280	77,597	63,476
Deferred tax liability, net			10,545	(9,442)	(24,284)
Security deposits and prepaid rents			12,084	4,505	(27,227)
Net cash provided by operating activities			1,706,541	1,513,817	1,385,324
Cash flows from investing activities:
Improvements to investments in real estate			(2,064,066)	(1,436,902)	(1,325,162)
Cash paid for acquisitions			(1,029,652)	(75,704)	(2,090,542)
Deconsolidation of Ascenty cash				(97,081)
Proceeds from joint venture transactions				1,494,881
Proceeds from sale of marketable equity security			70,019	0	0
Cash assumed in acquisitions			121,085		116,000
Proceeds from sale of assets, net of sales costs			564,615		286,204
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures			(144,323)	(101,101)	(673)
Prepaid construction costs and other investments			(86,887)	(20,672)	(13,254)
Improvement advances to tenants			(114,614)	(66,078)	(48,502)
Collection of improvement advances to tenants			84,476	27,665	39,936
Net cash used in investing activities			(2,599,347)	(274,992)	(3,035,993)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on global revolving credit facilities			3,638,932	3,099,685	3,046,245
Repayments on global revolving credit facilities			(3,476,821)	(4,512,073)	(1,945,594)
Borrowings on unsecured term loans					467,922
Repayments on unsecured term loans			(300,000)	(375,000)	(674,332)
Borrowings on unsecured senior notes			3,573,120	2,869,240	1,169,006
Repayments on unsecured senior notes			(2,623,383)	(1,539,613)
Borrowings on secured debt					600,000
Principal payments on secured debt			(5,541)	(688)	(594)
Payment of loan fees and costs			(23,921)	(20,944)	(44,299)
Premium paid for early extinguishment of debt			(96,124)	(35,067)
Capital contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net			102,285	63,173	66,124
Proceeds from common and preferred stock offerings, net			1,879,957	535,620	(3,861)
Redemption of preferred stock			(500,000)	(365,050)
Proceeds from equity plans			6,503	5,462	5,874
Proceeds from forward swap contract					1,560
Payment of dividends to preferred stockholders			(76,536)	(74,990)	(81,316)
Payment of dividends to common stockholders and distributions to noncontrolling interests in operating partnership			(1,162,782)	(921,776)	(849,466)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			935,689	(1,272,021)	1,757,269
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash			42,883	(33,196)	106,600
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash			(16,484)	(4,773)	15,441
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year			97,253	135,222	13,181
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year	123,652	97,253	123,652	97,253	135,222
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized			301,938	312,848	288,643
Cash paid for income taxes			20,055	14,607	11,224
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in net assets related to foreign currency translation adjustments			230,340	45,662	(11,736)
(Decrease) increase in other assets related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps			(12,425)	(9,232)	8,197
Noncontrolling interests in operating partnership converted to shares of common stock			92,553	190,514	149,547
Accrual for additions to investments in real estate and tenant improvement advances included in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities			358,694	197,665	189,508
Assumption of capital lease obligations upon acquisition					75,030
Non-cash derecognition of capital lease obligation					17,294
Decrease to goodwill and deferred tax liability				(9,436)
Allocation of purchase price of other business combinations and asset acquisitions:
Investment in real estate			945,144	74,903	410,712
Cash and cash equivalents			12,537
Account receivables			(8,509)	(76)
Operating lease right-of-use assets			1,332
Goodwill			188,654
Customer relationship value and other intangibles			68,406	725
Other assets			1,326
Secured debt			(139,569)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities			(20,717)
Operating lease liabilities			(1,384)
Security deposits and prepaid rents			(703)
Common stock issued			(28,168)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint venture			(5,715)
Cash paid for acquisition of real estate			1,029,652	75,704	410,712
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Land	897,181		897,181
Operating lease right-of-use assets	1,386,959	628,681	1,386,959	628,681
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures	(119,659)	(20,625)	(119,659)	(20,625)
Deconsolidation of Ascenty:
Investment in real estate	(21,731,112)	(15,517,684)	(21,731,112)	(15,517,684)
Account receivables	(603,111)	(305,501)	(603,111)	(305,501)
Goodwill	(8,330,996)	(3,363,070)	(8,330,996)	(3,363,070)	(4,348,007)
Other assets	(264,528)	(259,376)	(264,528)	(259,376)
Secured debt	239,222	104,934	239,222	104,934
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	1,420,162	1,009,154	1,420,162	1,009,154
Non-controlling interest in consolidated joint venture	1,148,158	1,287,109	1,148,158	1,287,109
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	135,010	(87,922)	135,010	(87,922)
Deconsolidation of Ascenty cash				(97,081)
DFT Merger
Deconsolidation of Ascenty:
Goodwill	(2,592,146)	(2,592,146)	(2,592,146)	(2,592,146)	(2,592,146)
InterXion
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Land	190,970		190,970
Building and improvements	3,166,988		3,166,988		425,000
Construction in progress and space held for development	397,825		397,825
Operating lease right-of-use assets	553,987		553,987
Goodwill	4,338,711		4,338,711		982,667
Customer relationship value and other intangibles	1,052,811		1,052,811		495,000
Debt assumed	(1,662,276)		(1,662,276)
Operating lease liabilities	(47,797)		(47,797)
Finance lease obligations	(553,987)		(553,987)
Deferred tax liability	(535,990)		(535,990)
Noncontrolling interests in operating partnership					(253,837)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures					(25,000)
Other working capital liabilities, net	(24,738)		(24,738)		60,000
Total equity consideration (2020) or cash paid (2018)	6,876,504		6,876,504		1,563,830
Assumed cash and cash equivalents	108,548		108,548		116,000
Deconsolidation of Ascenty:
Goodwill	(4,718,867)	0	(4,718,867)	0
Preferred Stock | InterXion
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Total purchase consideration			6,985,052	0	1,679,830
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	59,508	349,326	362,730	599,221	341,115
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on disposition of properties / deconsolidation, net			(316,894)	(335,148)	(80,049)
Gain on sale of marketable equity security			(17,883)
Unrealized gain on marketable equity security			(577)	(46,492)	(1,631)
Impairment of investments in real estate			6,482	5,351
Equity in loss (earnings) of unconsolidated joint ventures			57,629	(8,067)	(32,979)
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures			39,878	44,293	21,905
Write-off due to early lease terminations			9	11,400	2,818
Depreciation and amortization of buildings and improvements, tenant improvements and acquired ground leases			1,010,538	809,472	770,275
Amortization of customer relationship value, acquired in-place lease value and deferred leasing costs			355,841	354,302	416,621
Amortization of share-based compensation			74,577	34,905	27,159
Non-cash amortization of terminated swaps			1,046	1,047	1,120
Allowance for doubtful accounts			6,480	2,159	6,304
Amortization of deferred financing costs			15,286	13,362	11,537
Loss from early extinguishment of debt			103,215	39,157	1,568
Amortization of debt discount/premium			3,916	2,260	3,538
Amortization of acquired above-market leases and acquired below-market leases, net			12,686	17,097	26,530
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Accounts and other receivables			2,432	(8,435)	(21,318)
Deferred rent			(30,430)	(47,858)	(39,905)
Deferred leasing costs			(60,966)	(31,270)	(72,104)
Other assets			(14,363)	(15,599)	(9,145)
Accounts payable, operating lease liabilities and other accrued liabilities			72,280	77,597	63,476
Deferred tax liability, net			10,545	(9,442)	(24,284)
Security deposits and prepaid rents			12,084	4,505	(27,227)
Net cash provided by operating activities			1,706,541	1,513,817	1,385,324
Cash flows from investing activities:
Improvements to investments in real estate			(2,064,066)	(1,436,902)	(1,325,162)
Cash paid for acquisitions			(1,029,652)	(75,704)	(2,090,542)
Deconsolidation of Ascenty cash				(97,081)
Proceeds from joint venture transactions				1,494,881
Proceeds from sale of marketable equity security			70,019
Cash assumed in acquisitions			121,085		116,000
Proceeds from sale of assets, net of sales costs			564,615		286,204
Investments in unconsolidated joint ventures			(144,323)	(101,101)	(673)
Prepaid construction costs and other investments			(86,887)	(20,672)	(13,254)
Improvement advances to tenants			(114,614)	(66,078)	(48,502)
Collection of improvement advances to tenants			84,476	27,665	39,936
Net cash used in investing activities			(2,599,347)	(274,992)	(3,035,993)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on global revolving credit facilities			3,638,932	3,099,685	3,046,245
Repayments on global revolving credit facilities			(3,476,821)	(4,512,073)	(1,945,594)
Borrowings on unsecured term loans					467,922
Repayments on unsecured term loans			(300,000)	(375,000)	(674,332)
Borrowings on unsecured senior notes			3,573,120	2,869,240	1,169,006
Repayments on unsecured senior notes			(2,623,383)	(1,539,613)
Borrowings on secured debt					600,000
Principal payments on secured debt			(5,541)	(688)	(594)
Payment of loan fees and costs			(23,921)	(20,944)	(44,299)
Premium paid for early extinguishment of debt			(96,124)	(35,067)
Capital contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net			102,285	63,173	66,124
General partner contributions			1,886,460	541,082	2,013
General partner distributions			(500,000)	(365,050)
Proceeds from forward swap contract					1,560
Payment of dividends to preferred stockholders			(76,536)	(74,990)	(81,316)
Payment of dividends to common stockholders and distributions to noncontrolling interests in operating partnership			(1,162,782)	(921,776)	(849,466)
Net cash provided by (used in) financing activities			935,689	(1,272,021)	1,757,269
Net increase (decrease) in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash			42,883	(33,196)	106,600
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash			(16,484)	(4,773)	15,441
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of year			97,253	135,222	13,181
Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of year	123,652	97,253	123,652	97,253	135,222
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, net of amounts capitalized			301,938	312,848	288,643
Cash paid for income taxes			20,055	14,607	11,224
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in net assets related to foreign currency translation adjustments			230,340	45,662	(11,736)
(Decrease) increase in other assets related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps			(12,425)	(9,232)	8,197
Limited Partner common units converted to General Partner common units			92,553	190,514	149,547
Accrual for additions to investments in real estate and tenant improvement advances included in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities			358,694	197,665	189,508
Assumption of capital lease obligations upon acquisition					75,030
Non-cash derecognition of capital lease obligation					17,294
Decrease to goodwill and deferred tax liability				(9,436)
Allocation of purchase price of other business combinations and asset acquisitions:
Investment in real estate			945,144	74,903	410,712
Cash and cash equivalents			12,537
Account receivables			8,509	76
Operating lease right-of-use assets			1,332
Goodwill			188,654
Customer relationship value and other intangibles			68,406	725
Other assets			1,326
Secured debt			(139,569)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities			(20,717)
Operating lease liabilities			(1,384)
Security deposits and prepaid rents			(703)
Common stock issued			(28,168)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint venture			(5,715)
Cash paid for acquisition of real estate			1,029,652	75,704	410,712
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Operating lease right-of-use assets	1,386,959	628,681	1,386,959	628,681
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures	(119,659)	(20,625)	(119,659)	(20,625)
Deconsolidation of Ascenty:
Investment in real estate	(21,731,112)	(15,517,684)	(21,731,112)	(15,517,684)
Account receivables	(603,111)	(305,501)	(603,111)	(305,501)
Goodwill	(8,330,996)	(3,363,070)	(8,330,996)	(3,363,070)
Other assets	(264,528)	(259,376)	(264,528)	(259,376)
Secured debt	239,222	104,934	239,222	104,934
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	1,420,162	1,009,154	1,420,162	1,009,154
Non-controlling interest in consolidated joint venture	1,148,158	1,287,109	1,148,158	1,287,109
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	134,800	(91,409)	134,800	(91,409)
Deconsolidation of Ascenty cash				(97,081)
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | InterXion
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Land	190,970		190,970
Building and improvements	3,166,988		3,166,988		425,000
Construction in progress and space held for development	397,825		397,825
Operating lease right-of-use assets	553,987		553,987
Goodwill	4,338,711		4,338,711		982,667
Customer relationship value and other intangibles	1,052,811		1,052,811		495,000
Debt assumed	(1,662,276)		(1,662,276)
Operating lease liabilities	(47,797)		(47,797)
Finance lease obligations	(553,987)		(553,987)
Other working capital liabilities, net	(24,738)		(24,738)		(60,000)
Deferred tax liability	(535,990)		(535,990)
Noncontrolling interests in operating partnership			0		(253,837)
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures	0		0		(25,000)
Total equity consideration (2020) or cash paid (2018)	6,876,504		6,876,504		1,563,830
Assumed cash and cash equivalents	108,548		108,548		116,000
Total purchase consideration			6,985,052		$ 1,679,830
Ascenty Acquisition
Cash flows from investing activities:
Deconsolidation of Ascenty cash				(97,081)
Allocation of purchase price to business combinations:
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures	$ (21,900)	(23,900)	$ (21,900)	(23,900)
Deconsolidation of Ascenty:
Investment in real estate		(362,951)		(362,951)
Account receivables		(24,977)		(24,977)
Acquired in-place lease value, deferred leasing costs and intangibles		(480,128)		(480,128)
Goodwill		(967,189)		(967,189)
Other assets		(31,099)		(31,099)
Secured debt		571,873		571,873
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities		72,449		72,449
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		(21,687)		(21,687)
Deconsolidation of Ascenty cash				(97,081)
Net carrying value of Ascenty assets and liabilities deconsolidated				(1,340,790)
Recognition of retained investment in unconsolidated Ascenty joint venture		727,439		727,439
Ascenty Acquisition | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Cash flows from investing activities:
Deconsolidation of Ascenty cash				(97,081)
Deconsolidation of Ascenty:
Investment in real estate		(362,951)		(362,951)
Account receivables		(24,977)		(24,977)
Acquired in-place lease value, deferred leasing costs and intangibles		(480,128)		(480,128)
Goodwill		(967,189)		(967,189)
Other assets		(31,099)		(31,099)
Secured debt		571,873		571,873
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities		72,449		72,449
Accumulated other comprehensive loss		21,687		21,687
Deconsolidation of Ascenty cash				(97,081)
Net carrying value of Ascenty assets and liabilities deconsolidated				1,340,790
Recognition of retained investment in unconsolidated Ascenty joint venture		$ 727,439		$ 727,439