CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF CAPITAL - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (units)			291,148,000
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated entities	$ (64)	$ 10,379	$ 4,441	$ 21,906
Partial settlement of forward sale agreements, net of costs		399,722		400,878
Deconsolidation of noncontrolling interest in consolidated entities			(65,358)
Net income (loss)	748,595	242,214	939,807	382,917
Other comprehensive income (loss)	$ (145,811)	(396,363)	$ (292,667)	(705,203)
Ending balance (units)	302,846,000		302,846,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 18,105,158	17,630,219	$ 18,107,465	18,476,787
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated entities	(64)	10,379	4,441	161,644
Units issued under equity plans, net of unit settlement to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting	3,551	11,684	(23)	9,510
Amortization of share-based compensation	19,230	21,288	54,785	62,253
Issuance of common units, net of costs	335,313		1,077,539
Payment of common unit offering costs and other, net				395,909
Partial settlement of forward sale agreements, net of costs		399,722
Adjustment to redeemable partnership units	(1,116)	4,783	3,238	12,124
Distributions	(388,282)	(368,905)	(1,146,177)	(1,101,182)
Deconsolidation of noncontrolling interest in consolidated entities			(65,358)
Net income (loss)	748,595	242,214	939,807	243,179
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(145,811)	(396,363)	(292,667)	(705,203)
Ending balance	18,676,574	17,555,021	18,676,574	17,555,021
Redeemable Interests | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	1,367,422	41,047	1,514,679	46,995
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated entities			129	1,703
Redeemable noncontrolling interests associated with acquisition of Teraco		(1,530,090)		1,530,090
Adjustment to redeemable partnership units	1,116	(4,783)	(3,238)	(12,124)
Distributions	(190)	(190)	(570)	(570)
Net income (loss)	(2,657)	(3,423)	(9,386)	(3,353)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(5,383)	(132,821)	(147,782)	(132,821)
Ending balance	1,360,308	1,429,920	1,360,308	1,429,920
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(762,492)	(490,285)	(613,423)	(181,445)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(144,686)	(396,363)	(293,755)	(705,203)
Ending balance	(907,178)	(886,648)	(907,178)	(886,648)
Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Joint Ventures | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	47,603	59,374	104,814	46,882
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated entities	(64)	10,379	4,441	21,906
Deconsolidation of noncontrolling interest in consolidated entities			(65,358)
Net income (loss)	(948)	(136)	(556)	829
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(1,409)		1,841
Ending balance	45,182	69,617	45,182	69,617
General Partner | Preferred Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 731,690	$ 731,690	$ 731,690	$ 731,690
Beginning balance (units)	30,200,000	30,200,000	30,200,000	30,200,000
Distributions	$ (10,181)		$ (30,543)
Net income (loss)	10,181		30,543
Ending balance	$ 731,690	$ 731,690	$ 731,690	$ 731,690
Ending balance (units)	30,200,000	30,200,000	30,200,000	30,200,000
General Partner | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 17,631,250	$ 16,882,503	$ 17,447,442	$ 17,446,758
Beginning balance (units)	299,240,366	284,733,922	291,148,222	284,415,013
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units	$ 1,151	$ 503	$ 5,592	$ 1,962
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)	15,435	6,253	77,432	23,550
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated entities				$ 136,708
Units issued under equity plans, net of unit settlement to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting	$ 3,551	$ 11,684	$ (23)	$ 9,510
Units issued under equity plans, net of unit settlement to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting (in units)	69,658	63,863	123,539	106,051
Amortization of share-based compensation	$ 19,230	$ 21,288	$ 54,785	$ 62,253
Vesting of restricted common units, net (units)	66,419	45,630	221,907	305,054
Issuance of common units, net of costs	$ 335,313		$ 1,077,539
Issuance of common units, net of costs (units)	3,454,148		11,274,926
Payment of common unit offering costs and other, net				$ 395,909
Payment of common unit offering costs and other, net (Shares)				2,658,539
Partial settlement of forward sale agreements, net of costs		$ 399,722
Partial settlement of forward sale agreements, net of costs (shares)		2,658,539
Reclassification of vested share-based awards	$ (1,490)	$ (933)	$ (37,567)	$ 29,210
Adjustment to redeemable partnership units	(1,116)	4,783	3,238	12,124
Distributions	(370,278)	(361,591)	(1,092,430)	(1,078,055)
Net income (loss)	723,437	237,075	889,985	237,075
Other comprehensive income (loss)	284		(753)
Ending balance	$ 18,341,332	$ 17,195,034	$ 18,341,332	$ 17,195,034
Ending balance (units)	302,846,026	287,508,207	302,846,026	287,508,207
Limited Partners | Common Units | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Partners' Capital [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 457,107	$ 446,937	$ 436,942	$ 432,902
Beginning balance (units)	6,483,064	6,299,478	6,288,669	5,931,771
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units	$ (1,151)	$ (503)	$ (5,592)	$ (1,962)
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)	(15,435)		(77,432)	(17,297)
Issuance of limited partner common units, net (in units)	11,765		268,157	380,194
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated entities				$ 3,030
Issuance of common units, net of costs (units)		(4,810)
Reclassification of vested share-based awards	$ 1,490	$ 933	$ 37,567	(29,210)
Distributions	(7,823)	(7,314)	(23,204)	(23,127)
Net income (loss)	15,925	5,275	19,835	5,275
Ending balance	$ 465,548	$ 445,328	$ 465,548	$ 445,328
Ending balance (units)	6,479,394	6,294,668	6,479,394	6,294,668