Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows In Thousands	9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2011 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010 Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010 Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member] 5.875% Due 2020 [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member] 5.250% Due 2021 [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010 Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member] 4.50% Due 2015 [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010 5.875% Due 2020 [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2011 5.250% Due 2021 [Member] USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2010 4.50% Due 2015 [Member] USD ($)
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 114,929	$ 69,114	$ 114,929	$ 69,114
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
Loss on early extinguishment of debt-non cash portion	558	2,119	558	2,119
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	(3,656)	(3,994)	(3,656)	(3,994)
Distributions from unconsolidated joint venture	3,250	3,000	3,250	3,000
Write-off of net assets due to early lease terminations	81	227	81	227
Depreciation and amortization of buildings and improvements, tenant improvements and acquired ground leases	181,499	148,263	181,499	148,263
Amortization of share-based unearned compensation	10,263	10,175	10,263	10,175
Recovery of doubtful accounts	(1,090)	(290)	(1,090)	(290)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	7,246	8,050	7,246	8,050
Write-off of deferred financing costs, included in net loss on early extinguishment of debt	85		85
Amortization of debt discount/premium	1,813	3,205	1,813	3,205
Amortization of acquired in place lease value and deferred leasing costs	48,313	39,258	48,313	39,258
Amortization of acquired above market leases and acquired below market leases, net	(5,663)	(6,504)	(5,663)	(6,504)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Restricted cash	288	(3,285)	288	(3,285)
Accounts and other receivables	(9,610)	(37,305)	(9,610)	(37,305)
Deferred rent	(41,220)	(33,707)	(41,220)	(33,707)
Deferred leasing costs	(7,200)	(7,454)	(7,200)	(7,454)
Other assets	(11,389)	(3,629)	(11,389)	(3,629)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(6,859)	44,171	(6,859)	44,171
Security deposits and prepaid rents	(1,540)	8,907	(1,540)	8,907
Net cash provided by operating activities	280,098	240,321	280,098	240,321
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of real estate	(86,567)	(1,181,889)	(86,567)	(1,181,889)
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(382)	(10,354)	(382)	(10,354)
Deposits paid for acquisitions of real estate	(10,066)		(10,066)
Receipt of value added tax refund	9,253	3,499	9,253	3,499
Refundable value added tax paid	(17,859)	(4,052)	(17,859)	(4,052)
Change in restricted cash	4,604	(17,826)	4,604	(17,826)
Improvements to and advances for investments in real estate	(489,709)	(248,737)	(489,709)	(248,737)
Improvement advances to tenants	(7,705)	(1,529)	(7,705)	(1,529)
Collection of advances from tenants for improvements	6,746	1,516	6,746	1,516
Net cash used in investing activities	(591,685)	(1,459,372)	(591,685)	(1,459,372)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on revolving credit facilities	883,247	554,622	883,247	554,622
Repayments on revolving credit facilities	(1,049,182)	(540,547)	(1,049,182)	(540,547)
Borrowings on unsecured senior notes		117,000		117,000	491,480	399,100	373,864	491,480	399,100	373,864
Principal payments on mortgage loans	(127,341)	(14,507)	(127,341)	(14,507)
Principal repayments on 2026 exchangeable senior debentures	(88,758)	(250)	(88,758)	(250)
Principal payments on unsecured notes	(25,000)		(25,000)
Equity component settled associated with exchange of 2026 exchangeable senior debentures	(11,783)		(11,783)
Redemption of Series A preferred units		(103,500)		(103,500)
Change in restricted cash	(73)	(1,071)	(73)	(1,071)
Payment of loan fees and costs	(6,593)	(11,985)	(6,593)	(11,985)
Capital contributions received from noncontrolling interests in joint ventures	119	12,682	119	12,682
Gross proceeds from the sale of common stock	419,619	550,107
Gross proceeds from the sale of preferred stock	287,500
Common stock offering costs paid	(6,027)	(18,905)
Preferred stock offering costs paid	(9,447)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	3,416	5,179
General partner contributions			695,061	536,381
Payment of dividends/distributions to preferred stockholders/unitholders	(15,671)	(29,396)	(15,671)	(29,396)
Payment of dividends/distributions to common stockholders/unitholders and distributions to noncontrolling interests in operating partnership	(261,286)	(171,549)	(261,286)	(171,549)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint venture	(53,240)		(53,240)
Net cash provided by financing activities	338,600	1,213,224	338,600	1,213,224
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	27,013	(5,827)	27,013	(5,827)
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	11,719	72,320	11,719	72,320
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	38,732	66,493	38,732	66,493
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, including amounts capitalized	126,664	86,144	126,664	86,144
Cash paid for taxes	1,568	998	1,568	998
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in net assets related to foreign currency translation adjustments	(10,543)	(11,612)	(10,543)	(11,612)
Decrease in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	(3,036)	(8,132)	(3,036)	(8,132)
Noncontrolling interests in operating partnership redeemed for or converted to shares of common stock	6,560	7,850
Non-cash allocation of investment in consolidated joint ventures to:
Land		8,976		8,976
Building		18,155		18,155
Restricted cash		2,160		2,160
Mortgage loans		(13,375)		(13,375)
Other secured loans		(10,500)		(10,500)
Noncontrolling interest in consolidated joint ventures		(2,616)		(2,616)
Noncontrolling interest contribution to consolidated joint ventures		2,800		2,800
Accrual for additions to investments in real estate and tenant improvement advances included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	136,840	78,743	136,840	78,743
Accrual of contingent purchase price for investments in real estate		2,700		2,700
Issuance of common units associated with exchange of 2026 exchangeable senior debentures, net	221	62,454	221	62,454
Allocation of purchase price of real estate/investment in partnership to:
Investments in real estate	79,424	1,066,241	79,424	1,066,241
Acquired above market leases	178	25,339	178	25,339
Acquired below market leases		(43,869)		(43,869)
Acquired in place lease value and deferred leasing costs	6,965	138,312	6,965	138,312
Security deposits		(4,134)		(4,134)
Cash paid for acquisition of real estate	$ 86,567	$ 1,181,889	$ 86,567	$ 1,181,889