Income per Unit - Summary of Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share (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
Class of Stock
Net (loss) 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
Weighted average units outstanding-basic (units)									260,098,978	208,325,823	206,035,408
Potentially dilutive common units:
Unvested incentive units (units)									120,775	165,185	141,260
Unvested restricted stock (units)									177,244
Forward equity offering (units)									1,596,476	813,073	33,315
Market performance-based awards (units)									529,035	158,166	463,488
Weighted average shares/units outstanding-diluted (shares/units)									262,522,508	209,462,247	206,673,471
Earnings per unit:
Basic (in dollars per unit)	$ 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 unit)	$ 0.16	$ (0.14)	$ 0.20	$ 0.90	$ 1.50	$ 0.24	$ 0.15	$ 0.46	$ 1.00	$ 2.35	$ 1.21
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Class of Stock
Net (loss) income available to common stockholders	$ 45,477	$ (38,370)	$ 55,076	$ 210,659	$ 328,677	$ 52,127	$ 33,138	$ 100,169	$ 272,842	$ 514,111	$ 260,110
Weighted average units outstanding-basic (units)									268,072,983	217,284,755	214,312,871
Potentially dilutive common units:
Unvested incentive units (units)									120,775	165,185	141,260
Unvested restricted stock (units)									177,244
Forward equity offering (units)									1,596,476	813,073	33,315
Market performance-based awards (units)									529,035	158,166	463,488
Weighted average shares/units outstanding-diluted (shares/units)									270,496,513	218,421,179	214,950,934
Earnings per unit:
Basic (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.16	$ (0.14)	$ 0.20	$ 0.91	$ 1.51	$ 0.24	$ 0.15	$ 0.46	$ 1.02	$ 2.37	$ 1.21
Diluted (in dollars per unit)	$ 0.16	$ (0.14)	$ 0.20	$ 0.90	$ 1.50	$ 0.24	$ 0.15	$ 0.46	$ 1.01	$ 2.35	$ 1.21