CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CAPITAL - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2023	Mar. 31, 2022
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (units)	291,148,000
Contributions from (distributions to) noncontrolling interests	$ 4,552	$ 17,559
Units issued under equity plans, net of unit settlement to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting		(1,193)
Common stock offering costs	(441)
Payment of common unit offering costs and other		(4,024)
Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interests	306	5,473
Cumulative effect adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard	17,704,674	18,208,706
Deconsolidation of noncontrolling interest in consolidated entities	(65,358)
Net income (loss)	71,125	76,875
Other comprehensive income (loss)-fair value of interest rate swaps	572	(1,344)
Other comprehensive income-reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense	(6,543)	(103)
Other comprehensive income (loss), Parent	$ (54,795)	(15,324)
Ending balance (units)	291,299,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 18,107,465	18,476,787
Contributions from (distributions to) noncontrolling interests	4,552	17,559
Units issued under equity plans, net of unit settlement to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting	(1,613)	(1,193)
Amortization of share-based compensation	17,502	18,545
Common stock offering costs	(440)
Payment of common unit offering costs and other		(4,024)
Adjustment to redeemable partnership units	306	5,473
Distributions	(374,070)	(365,992)
Deconsolidation of noncontrolling interest in consolidated entities	(65,358)
Net income (loss)	71,125	76,875
Other comprehensive income (loss)-fair value of interest rate swaps	572	(1,344)
Other comprehensive income-reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense	(6,543)	(103)
Other comprehensive income (loss), Parent	(54,795)	(15,324)
Ending balance	17,704,674	18,208,706
Redeemable Interests | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	1,514,679	46,995
Contributions from (distributions to) noncontrolling interests	129	1,367
Adjustment to redeemable partnership units	(306)	(5,473)
Distributions	(190)	(190)
Net income (loss)	(2,288)	35
Other comprehensive income (loss), Parent	(63,252)
Ending balance	1,448,772	42,734
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(613,423)	(181,445)
Other comprehensive income (loss), Parent	(58,037)	(15,324)
Ending balance	(671,460)	(196,769)
Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Joint Ventures | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	104,814	46,882
Contributions from (distributions to) noncontrolling interests	4,552	17,559
Deconsolidation of noncontrolling interest in consolidated entities	(65,358)
Net income (loss)	931	2,029
Other comprehensive income (loss), Parent	2,403
Ending balance	47,342	66,470
General Partner | Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 731,690	$ 731,690
Beginning balance (units)	30,200,000	30,200,000
Distributions	$ (10,181)
Net income (loss)	10,181
Ending balance	$ 731,690	$ 731,690
Ending balance (units)	30,200,000	30,200,000
General Partner | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 17,447,442	$ 17,446,758
Beginning balance (units)	291,148,222	284,415,013
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units	$ 474	$ 1,258
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)	6,201	14,861
Units issued under equity plans, net of unit settlement to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting	$ (1,613)	$ (1,193)
Units issued under equity plans, net of unit settlement to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting (in units)	53,881	42,188
Amortization of share-based compensation	$ 17,502	$ 18,545
Vesting of restricted common units, net (units)	90,306	194,020
Common stock offering costs	$ (440)
Payment of common unit offering costs and other		$ (4,024)
Reclassification of vested share-based awards	(33,556)	(26,531)
Adjustment to redeemable partnership units	306	5,473
Distributions	(356,214)	(358,206)
Net income (loss)	58,545	73,281
Other comprehensive income (loss), Parent	839
Ending balance	$ 17,133,285	$ 17,155,361
Ending balance (units)	291,298,610	284,666,082
Limited Partners | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 436,942	$ 432,902
Beginning balance (units)	6,288,669	5,931,771
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units	$ (474)	$ (1,258)
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)	(6,201)	(14,861)
Issuance of limited partner common units, net (in units)	179,689
Payment of common unit offering costs and other (Shares)		373,555
Reclassification of vested share-based awards	$ 33,556	$ 26,531
Distributions	(7,675)	(7,786)
Net income (loss)	1,468	1,565
Ending balance	$ 463,817	$ 451,954
Ending balance (units)	6,462,157	6,290,465