CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CAPITAL - USD ($)	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (units)	280,289,726
Common units and share-based awards issued in connection with acquisition	$ 18,270,000
Common units and share-based awards issued in connection with Interxion combination		$ 6,975,252,000
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan	3,427,000	2,638,000
Units repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting	(9,718,000)	(4,318,000)
Amortization of unearned compensation on share-based awards	28,788,000	15,680,000
Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interests	(208,000)	(2,992,000)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of distributions	31,680,000	39,476,000
Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard	18,345,324,000	17,176,540,000	$ 18,446,336,000
Net (loss) income	394,676,000	228,698,000
Net income (loss)	394,467,000	231,604,000
Other comprehensive income (loss)-foreign currency translation adjustments	(219,002,000)	(357,202,000)
(Decrease) increase in other assets related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	337,000	(11,838,000)
Reclassification to interest expense from interest rate swaps	$ 359,000	(558,000)
Ending balance (units)	281,372,310		280,289,726
Interest Rate Swap
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
(Decrease) increase in other assets related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	$ 337,000	(11,838,000)
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	18,446,336,000	10,608,100,000	$ 10,608,100,000
Common units and share-based awards issued in connection with acquisition	18,270,000
Common units and share-based awards issued in connection with Interxion combination		6,975,252,000
Issuance of common unit, net of offering costs	(232,000)	6,505,000
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan	3,427,000	2,638,000
Units repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting	(9,718,000)	(3,068,000)
Amortization of unearned compensation on share-based awards	28,788,000	14,430,000
Distributions	(349,180,000)	(325,807,000)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of distributions	31,680,000
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of contributions		39,476,000
Net (loss) income	394,676,000	228,698,000
Net income (loss)	394,467,000	231,604,000
Other comprehensive income (loss)-foreign currency translation adjustments	(219,002,000)	(357,202,000)
(Decrease) increase in other assets related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	337,000	(11,838,000)
Reclassification to interest expense from interest rate swaps	359,000	(558,000)
Ending balance	18,345,324,000	17,176,540,000	18,446,336,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Interest Rate Swap
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income-fair value of interest rate swaps	337,000	(11,838,000)
Redeemable Interests | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	42,011,000	41,465,000	41,465,000
Distributions	(181,000)	(175,000)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of distributions	(2,150,000)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of contributions		1,052,000
Net income (loss)	209,000	(2,906,000)
Other comprehensive income (loss)-foreign currency translation adjustments		(2,401,000)
Ending balance	40,097,000	40,027,000	42,011,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	134,800,000	(91,409,000)	(91,409,000)
Other comprehensive income (loss)-foreign currency translation adjustments	(219,002,000)	(357,202,000)
Reclassification to interest expense from interest rate swaps	359,000	(558,000)
Ending balance	(83,506,000)	(461,007,000)	134,800,000
Accumulated other comprehensive income (loss), net | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Interest Rate Swap
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Other comprehensive income-fair value of interest rate swaps	337,000	(11,838,000)
Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Joint Ventures | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	119,659,000	20,625,000	20,625,000
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of distributions	31,680,000
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of contributions		39,476,000
Net income (loss)	(1,044,000)	(63,000)
Other comprehensive income (loss)-foreign currency translation adjustments	0	0
Ending balance	150,295,000	60,038,000	119,659,000
General Partner | Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 950,940,000	$ 1,434,420,000	$ 1,434,420,000
Beginning balance (units)	38,250,000	58,250,000	58,250,000
Distributions	$ (13,514,000)	$ (21,155,000)
Net income (loss)	13,514,000	21,155,000
Ending balance	$ 950,940,000	$ 1,434,420,000	$ 950,940,000
Ending balance (units)	38,250,000	58,250,000	38,250,000
General Partner | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 16,631,747,000	$ 8,532,814,000	$ 8,532,814,000
Beginning balance (units)	280,289,726	208,900,758	208,900,758
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units	$ 53,613,000	$ 52,237,000
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)	642,190	592,953
Common units and share-based awards issued in connection with acquisition	$ 18,270,000
Common units and share-based awards issued in connection with acquisition (in units)	125,395
Common units and share-based awards issued in connection with Interxion combination		$ 6,975,252,000
Common units and share-based awards issued in connection with Interxion combination (in units)		54,298,595
Issuance of common unit, net of offering costs	$ (232,000)	$ 6,505,000
Issuance of common units, net of offering costs (in units)		50,000
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan	$ 3,427,000	$ 2,638,000
Units issued in connection with employee stock purchase plan (units)	29,475	25,234
Units repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting	$ (9,718,000)	$ (3,068,000)
Vesting of restricted common units, net (units)	285,524	(271,978)
Amortization of unearned compensation on share-based awards	$ 28,788,000	$ 14,430,000
Reclassification of vested share-based awards	(20,548,000)	(15,007,000)
Distributions	(326,965,000)	(295,630,000)
Net income (loss)	372,506,000	202,859,000
Ending balance	$ 16,750,680,000	$ 15,470,038,000	$ 16,631,747,000
Ending balance (units)	281,372,310	263,595,562	280,289,726
Limited Partners | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 609,190,000	$ 711,650,000	$ 711,650,000
Beginning balance (units)	8,046,267	8,843,155	8,843,155
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units	$ (53,613,000)	$ (52,237,000)
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)	(642,190)	(592,953)
Payment of offering costs		$ 223,184
Reclassification of vested share-based awards	$ 20,548,000	15,007,000
Distributions	(8,701,000)	(9,022,000)
Net income (loss)	9,491,000	7,653,000
Ending balance	$ 576,915,000	$ 673,051,000	$ 609,190,000
Ending balance (units)	7,741,271	8,473,386	8,046,267