Debt of the Operating Partnership - Unsecured Senior Notes (Details) € in Millions, £ in Millions, $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020 EUR (€)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 GBP (£)	Dec. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2020 GBP (£)	Oct. 14, 2020	Aug. 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Floating Rate Notes due 2022 | Digital Dutch Finco B.V. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Debt face amount	€ 300.0
Net proceeds from offering	€ 348.7
0.125% notes due 2022 | Digital Dutch Finco B.V.
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	0.125%			0.125%	0.125%			0.125%
0.125% notes due 2022 | Digital Dutch Finco B.V. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	0.125%			0.125%	0.125%
Debt face amount	€ 300.0
Net proceeds from offering	€ 330.8
0.125% notes due 2022 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	0.125%			0.125%	0.125%
2.750% notes due 2023 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	2.75%			2.75%	2.75%			2.75%
2.750% notes due 2023 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	2.75%			2.75%	2.75%
Debt face amount | $				$ 350.0
Net proceeds from offering | $		$ 346.9
4.750% notes due 2023 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes.
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate						4.75%
4.750% notes due 2023 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	4.75%			4.75%	4.75%
4.750% notes due 2023 | Digital Delta Holding, LLC | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Debt face amount | $				$ 450.0
Net proceeds from offering | $		445.8
2.625% notes due 2024 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	2.625%			2.625%	2.625%
2.625% notes due 2024 | Digital Euro Finco, LLC
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	2.625%			2.625%	2.625%			2.625%
2.625% notes due 2024 | Digital Euro Finco, LLC | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	2.625%			2.625%	2.625%
Debt face amount	€ 600.0
Net proceeds from offering	€ 670.3
2.750% notes due 2024 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	2.75%			2.75%	2.75%
2.750% notes due 2024 | Digital Stout Holding, LLC
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	2.75%			2.75%	2.75%			2.75%
2.750% notes due 2024 | Digital Stout Holding, LLC | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	2.75%			2.75%	2.75%
Debt face amount | £					£ 250.0
Net proceeds from offering | £			£ 321.3
4.250% notes due 2025 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	4.25%			4.25%	4.25%
4.250% notes due 2025 | Digital Stout Holding, LLC
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	4.25%			4.25%	4.25%			4.25%
4.250% notes due 2025 | Digital Stout Holding, LLC | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	4.25%			4.25%	4.25%
Debt face amount | £					£ 400.0
Net proceeds from offering | £			624.2
0.625% notes due 2025 | Digital Dutch Finco B.V.
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	0.625%			0.625%	0.625%			0.625%
0.625% notes due 2025 | Digital Dutch Finco B.V. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	0.625%			0.625%	0.625%
Debt face amount	€ 650.0
Net proceeds from offering	€ 712.0
0.625% notes due 2025 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	0.625%			0.625%	0.625%
4.750% Notes due 2025 | Digital Delta Holding, LLC | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	4.75%			4.75%	4.75%
2.500% notes due 2026 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	2.50%			2.50%	2.50%
2.500% notes due 2026 | Digital Euro Finco, LLC
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	2.50%			2.50%	2.50%			2.50%
2.500% notes due 2026 | Digital Euro Finco, LLC | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	2.50%			2.50%	2.50%
Debt face amount	€ 1,075.0
Net proceeds from offering	€ 1,218.6
3.700% notes due 2027 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	3.70%			3.70%	3.70%			3.70%
3.700% notes due 2027 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	3.70%			3.70%	3.70%
Debt face amount | $				$ 1,000.0
Net proceeds from offering | $		991.0
1.125% notes due 2028 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	1.125%			1.125%	1.125%
1.125% notes due 2028 | Digital Euro Finco, LLC
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	1.125%			1.125%	1.125%			1.125%
1.125% notes due 2028 | Digital Euro Finco, LLC | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	1.125%			1.125%	1.125%
Debt face amount	€ 500.0
Net proceeds from offering	€ 539.7
4.450% notes due 2028 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	4.45%			4.45%	4.45%			4.45%
4.450% notes due 2028 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	4.45%			4.45%	4.45%
Debt face amount | $				$ 650.0
Net proceeds from offering | $		643.3
3.600% notes due 2029 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	3.60%			3.60%	3.60%			3.60%
3.600% notes due 2029 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	3.60%			3.60%	3.60%
Debt face amount | $				$ 900.0
Net proceeds from offering | $		$ 890.6
3.300% notes due 2029 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	3.30%			3.30%	3.30%
3.300% notes due 2029 | Digital Stout Holding, LLC
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	3.30%			3.30%	3.30%			3.30%
3.300% notes due 2029 | Digital Stout Holding, LLC | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	3.30%			3.30%	3.30%
Debt face amount | £					£ 350.0
Net proceeds from offering | £			448.6
1.500% Notes due 2030 | Digital Dutch Finco B.V. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	1.50%			1.50%	1.50%
Debt face amount	€ 750.0
Net proceeds from offering	€ 819.1
3.750% notes due 2030 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	3.75%			3.75%	3.75%
3.750% notes due 2030 | Digital Stout Holding, LLC
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	3.75%			3.75%	3.75%			3.75%
3.750% notes due 2030 | Digital Stout Holding, LLC | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	3.75%			3.75%	3.75%
Debt face amount | £					£ 550.0
Net proceeds from offering | £			£ 716.8
1.250% Notes due 2031 | Digital Dutch Finco B.V. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	1.25%			1.25%	1.25%
Debt face amount	€ 500.0
Net proceeds from offering	€ 553.2
1.000% Notes due 2032 | Digital Dutch Finco B.V. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	1.00%			1.00%	1.00%
Debt face amount	€ 750.0
Net proceeds from offering	€ 860.0
3.950% notes due 2022 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes.
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate							3.95%
3.950% notes due 2022 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	3.95%			3.95%	3.95%
3.625% notes due 2022 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Senior Notes.
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate							3.625%
3.625% notes due 2022 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	3.625%			3.625%	3.625%
4.750% notes due 2025 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	4.75%			4.75%	4.75%
4.750% notes due 2025 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	4.75%			4.75%	4.75%
4.750% notes due 2025 | Digital Delta Holding, LLC
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	4.75%			4.75%	4.75%			4.75%
4.750% notes due 2025 | Digital Delta Holding, LLC | Unsecured senior notes
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Stated interest rate	4.75%			4.75%	4.75%