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, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Numerator:
Net income available to common stockholders		$ 723,437	$ 226,894	$ 889,985	$ 343,240
Plus: Loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		(3,032)	(3,548)	(9,851)	(3,548)
Net income available to common stockholders - diluted EPS		$ 726,469	$ 223,346	$ 899,836	$ 339,692
Denominator:
Weighted average units outstanding-basic (shares/units)		301,827	286,693	296,184	285,312
Potentially dilutive common shares/units:
Unvested incentive units (shares/units)		97	195	78	213
Unvested restricted stock (shares/units)		43	13	3	53
Forward equity offering (shares/units)		209		253
Market performance-based awards (shares/units)		166	86	90	112
Redeemable noncontrolling interest shares (shares/units)		8,999	9,428	10,127	8,568
Weighted average shares/units outstanding-diluted (shares/units)		311,341	296,415	306,735	294,257
Income per unit:
Basic (in dollars per share)		$ 2.40	$ 0.79	$ 3.00	$ 1.20
Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 2.33	$ 0.75	$ 2.93	$ 1.15
Teraco
Income per unit:
Period for right to sell all or a portion of interest to company, beginning on February 1, 2026 (in years)	2 years			2 years
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Numerator:
Net income available to common stockholders		$ 739,737	$ 232,294	$ 910,285	$ 351,740
Plus: Loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		(3,032)	(3,548)	(9,851)	(3,548)
Net income available to common stockholders - diluted EPS		$ 742,769	$ 228,746	$ 920,136	$ 348,192
Denominator:
Weighted average units outstanding-basic (shares/units)		308,024	292,536	302,316	291,084
Potentially dilutive common shares/units:
Unvested incentive units (shares/units)		97	195	78	213
Unvested restricted stock (shares/units)		43	13	3	53
Forward equity offering (shares/units)		209		253
Market performance-based awards (shares/units)		166	86	90	112
Redeemable noncontrolling interest shares (shares/units)		8,999	9,428	10,127	8,568
Weighted average shares/units outstanding-diluted (shares/units)		317,538	302,258	312,867	300,028
Income per unit:
Basic (in dollars per share)		$ 2.40	$ 0.79	$ 3.00	$ 1.20
Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 2.33	$ 0.75	$ 2.93	$ 1.15