Debt Instrument, Extension Length

No definition available.

Name:	dlr_DebtInstrumentExtensionLength
Namespace Prefix:	dlr_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Number Of Extension Options

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	dlr_NumberOfExtensionOptions
Namespace Prefix:	dlr_
Data Type:	xbrli:integerItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Gross amount of debt extinguished.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ExtinguishmentOfDebtAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The total amount of the contingent obligation under letters of credit outstanding as of the reporting date.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LettersOfCreditOutstandingAmount
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.19(b),22(b))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=120391452&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for available but unused credit capacity under the credit facility.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityUnusedCapacityCommitmentFeePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	dei_LegalEntityAxis=dlr_DigitalRealtyTrustLPMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=dlr_GlobalRevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	dlr_LineOfCreditFeaturesAxis=dlr_AccordianFeatureMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=dlr_YenRevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Debt of the Operating Partnership - Global Revolving Credit Facilities Narrative (Details) $ in Millions, ¥ in Billions	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($) item	Oct. 24, 2018 USD ($)	Oct. 24, 2018 JPY (¥)	Jan. 15, 2016 USD ($)
Debt Instrument
Interest rate basis spread		0.90%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Debt Instrument
Early extinguishment charge	$ 0.9
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. \| Global revolving credit facilities, net
Debt Instrument
Maximum borrowing capacity			$ 2,350.0		$ 2,000.0
Number of extension options \| item		2
Debt instrument, extension term		6 months
Interest rate basis spread		0.90%
Commitment fee percentage		0.20%
Letters of credit issued		$ 60.8
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. \| Global revolving credit facilities, net \| Accordian Feature
Debt Instrument
Maximum borrowing capacity		$ 1,250.0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. \| Yen Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument
Maximum borrowing capacity			296.5	¥ 33.3
Interest rate basis spread		0.50%
Commitment fee percentage		0.10%
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. \| Yen Revolving Credit Facility \| Accordian Feature
Debt Instrument
Maximum borrowing capacity			$ 831.1	¥ 93.3