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		12 Months Ended
	Aug. 01, 2022	Dec. 31, 2023	Dec. 31, 2022	Dec. 31, 2021
Numerator:
Net income available to common stockholders		$ 908,114	$ 336,960	$ 1,681,498
Plus: Loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		(18,093)	4,839
Net income available to common stockholders - diluted EPS		$ 926,207	$ 332,121	$ 1,681,498
Denominator:
Weighted average units outstanding-basic (shares/units)		298,603	286,334	282,475
Potentially dilutive common shares/units:
Unvested incentive units (shares/units)		118	257	253
Unvested restricted stock (shares/units)		9	45	192
Forward equity offering (shares/units)		248
Market performance-based awards (units)		112	103	302
Redeemable noncontrolling interest shares (shares/units)		9,975	11,180
Weighted average shares/units outstanding-diluted (shares/units)		309,065	297,919	283,222
Income per unit:
Basic (in dollars per share)		$ 3.04	$ 1.18	$ 5.95
Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 3.00	$ 1.11	$ 5.94
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		$ 928,824	$ 345,060	$ 1,720,598
Plus: Loss attributable to redeemable noncontrolling interest		(18,093)	4,839
Net income available to common stockholders - diluted EPS		$ 946,917	$ 340,221	$ 1,720,598
Denominator:
Weighted average units outstanding-basic (shares/units)		304,651	292,123	289,165
Potentially dilutive common shares/units:
Unvested incentive units (shares/units)		118	257	253
Unvested restricted stock (shares/units)		9	45	192
Forward equity offering (shares/units)		248
Market performance-based awards (shares/units)		112	103	302
Redeemable noncontrolling interest shares (shares/units)		9,975	11,180
Weighted average shares/units outstanding-diluted (shares/units)		315,113	303,708	289,912
Income per unit:
Basic (in dollars per share)		$ 3.05	$ 1.18	$ 5.95
Diluted (in dollars per share)		$ 3.01	$ 1.12	$ 5.94