Consolidated Balance Sheets (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	Dec. 31, 2011		Dec. 31, 2010
ASSETS
Land	$ 555,113		$ 478,629
Acquired ground leases	6,214		6,374
Buildings and improvements	5,253,754	[1]	4,459,047	[1]
Tenant improvements	303,502		283,492
Total investments in properties	6,118,583		5,227,542
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(900,044)		(660,700)
Net investments in properties	5,218,539		4,566,842
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	23,976		17,635
Net investments in real estate	5,242,515		4,584,477
Cash and cash equivalents	40,631		11,719
Accounts and other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,436 and $3,250 as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively	90,580		70,337
Deferred rent	246,815		190,067
Acquired above market leases, net of accumulated amortization of $58,099 and $47,083 as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively	29,701		40,539
Acquired in place lease value and deferred leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $348,817 and $285,438 as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively	335,381		334,366
Deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $34,739 and $28,936 as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively	29,849		22,825
Restricted cash	55,165		60,062
Other assets	27,929		15,091
Total assets	6,098,566		5,329,483
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY/CAPITAL
Revolving credit facilities	275,106		333,534
Unsecured senior notes, net of discount	1,441,072		1,066,030
Exchangeable senior debentures	266,400		353,702
Mortgage loans, net of premiums	947,132		1,043,188
Other secured loan	10,500		10,500
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	315,133		237,631
Accrued dividends and distributions	75,455		51,210
Acquired below market leases, net of accumulated amortization of $115,456 and $96,740 as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively	85,819		93,250
Security deposits and prepaid rents	101,538		85,775
Total liabilities	3,518,155		3,274,820
Commitments and contingencies
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value, 30,000,000 shares authorized:
Series C Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock/Units, 4.375%, $128,159 and $174,999 liquidation preference, respectively ($25.00 per share/unit), 5,126,364 and 6,999,955 shares/units issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively	123,820		169,067
Series D Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock/Units, 5.500%, $174,426 and $344,683 liquidation preference, respectively ($25.00 per share/unit), 6,977,055 and 13,787,300 shares/units issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively	168,669		333,274
Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock/Units, 7.000%, $287,500 and $0 liquidation preference, respectively ($25.00 per share/unit), 11,500,000 and 0 shares/units issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively	277,292
Common Stock: $0.01 par value, 165,000,000 shares authorized, 106,039,279 and 91,159,221 shares issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively	1,057		909
Additional paid-in capital	2,496,651		1,849,497
Dividends in excess of earnings	(488,692)		(348,148)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(55,880)		(42,081)
Total stockholders' equity	2,522,917		1,962,518
Noncontrolling Interests:
Noncontrolling interests in operating partnership	45,057		52,436
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures	12,437		39,709
Total capital	2,580,411		2,054,663
Total noncontrolling interests	57,494		92,145
Total equity	2,580,411		2,054,663
Total liabilities and equity	6,098,566		5,329,483
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
ASSETS
Land	555,113		478,629
Acquired ground leases	6,214		6,374
Buildings and improvements	5,253,754		4,459,047
Tenant improvements	303,502		283,492
Total investments in properties	6,118,583		5,227,542
Accumulated depreciation and amortization	(900,044)		(660,700)
Net investments in properties	5,218,539		4,566,842
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	23,976		17,635
Net investments in real estate	5,242,515		4,584,477
Cash and cash equivalents	40,631		11,719
Accounts and other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts of $2,436 and $3,250 as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively	90,580		70,337
Deferred rent	246,815		190,067
Acquired above market leases, net of accumulated amortization of $58,099 and $47,083 as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively	29,701		40,539
Acquired in place lease value and deferred leasing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $348,817 and $285,438 as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively	335,381		334,366
Deferred financing costs, net of accumulated amortization of $34,739 and $28,936 as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively	29,849		22,825
Restricted cash	55,165		60,062
Other assets	27,929		15,091
Total assets	6,098,566		5,329,483
LIABILITIES AND EQUITY/CAPITAL
Revolving credit facilities	275,106		333,534
Unsecured senior notes, net of discount	1,441,072		1,066,030
Exchangeable senior debentures	266,400		353,702
Mortgage loans, net of premiums	947,132		1,043,188
Other secured loan	10,500		10,500
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	315,133		237,631
Accrued dividends and distributions	75,455		51,210
Acquired below market leases, net of accumulated amortization of $115,456 and $96,740 as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively	85,819		93,250
Security deposits and prepaid rents	101,538		85,775
Total liabilities	3,518,155		3,274,820
Commitments and contingencies
Preferred Stock: $0.01 par value, 30,000,000 shares authorized:
Series C Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock/Units, 4.375%, $128,159 and $174,999 liquidation preference, respectively ($25.00 per share/unit), 5,126,364 and 6,999,955 shares/units issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively	123,820		169,067
Series D Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock/Units, 5.500%, $174,426 and $344,683 liquidation preference, respectively ($25.00 per share/unit), 6,977,055 and 13,787,300 shares/units issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively	168,669		333,274
Series E Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock/Units, 7.000%, $287,500 and $0 liquidation preference, respectively ($25.00 per share/unit), 11,500,000 and 0 shares/units issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively	277,292
Common units,106,039,279 and 91,159,221 issued and outstanding as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010 respectively	2,009,016		1,502,258
Limited partners, 3,405,814 and 3,937,827 common units, 1,054,473 and 982,618 profits interest units and 475,843 and 543,004 class C units outstanding as of December 31, 2011 and December 31, 2010, respectively	49,240		56,215
Accumulated other comprehensive loss, net	(60,063)		(45,860)
Total partners' capital	2,567,974		2,014,954
Noncontrolling Interests:
Noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures	12,437		39,709
Total capital	2,580,411		2,054,663
Total liabilities and capital	$ 6,098,566		$ 5,329,483

[1] Balances related to construction in progress, without the proportionate acquisition cost of land and property, the construction cost amounted to $148.4 million, or $251.8 million including construction accruals and other capitalized costs, and $90.4 million, or $163.2 million including construction accruals and other capitalized costs, as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. Including the proportionate acquisition cost of land and property, the amounts were $345.0 million, or $448.4 million including construction accruals and other capitalized costs, and $205.9 million, or $278.8 million including construction accruals and other capitalized costs, as of December 31, 2011 and 2010, respectively. These amounts, without the proportionate acquisition cost of land and property, included within building and improvements, are primarily related to construction of datacenters.