Earnings per Common Share or Unit - Summary of Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share and Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands		3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Aug. 01, 2022	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2021
Numerator:
Net income available to common stockholders		$ 226,894	$ 124,094	$ 343,240	$ 623,869
Plus: Loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		(3,548)		(3,548)
Net income available to common stockholders - diluted EPS		$ 223,346	$ 124,094	$ 339,692	$ 623,869
Denominator:
Weighted average units outstanding-basic (shares/units)		286,693	283,106	285,312	282,005
Potentially dilutive common shares/units:
Unvested incentive units (shares/units)		195	217	213	208
Unvested restricted stock (shares/units)		13	188	53	165
Forward equity offering (shares/units)			44
Market performance-based awards (shares/units)		86	245	112	295
Redeemable noncontrolling interest shares (shares/units)		9,428		8,568
Weighted average shares/units outstanding-diluted (shares/units)		296,415	283,800	294,257	282,673
Income per share/unit:
Basic (in dollars per share/unit)		$ 0.79	$ 0.44	$ 1.20	$ 2.21
Diluted (in dollars per share/unit)		$ 0.75	$ 0.44	$ 1.15	$ 2.21
Period for right to sell all or a portion of interest to company, beginning on February 1, 2026 (in years)	2 years
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Numerator:
Net income available to common stockholders		$ 232,294	$ 127,094	$ 351,740	$ 639,869
Plus: Loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		(3,548)		(3,548)
Net income available to common stockholders - diluted EPS		$ 228,746	$ 127,094	$ 348,192	$ 639,869
Denominator:
Weighted average units outstanding-basic (shares/units)		292,536	289,535	291,084	288,897
Potentially dilutive common shares/units:
Unvested incentive units (shares/units)		195	217	213	208
Unvested restricted stock (shares/units)		13	188	53	165
Forward equity offering (shares/units)			44		0
Market performance-based awards (shares/units)		86	245	112	295
Redeemable noncontrolling interest shares (shares/units)		9,428		8,568
Weighted average shares/units outstanding-diluted (shares/units)		302,258	290,229	300,028	289,565
Income per share/unit:
Basic (in dollars per share/unit)		$ 0.79	$ 0.44	$ 1.20	$ 2.21
Diluted (in dollars per share/unit)		$ 0.75	$ 0.44	$ 1.15	$ 2.21