Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2012	Jun. 30, 2011
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 103,231	$ 77,240
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Loss on early extinguishment of debt-non cash portion		567
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	(4,882)	(2,266)
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	16,498	2,000
Write-off of net assets due to early lease terminations	337	81
Depreciation and amortization of buildings and improvements, tenant improvements and acquired ground leases	142,870	118,520
Amortization of share-based unearned compensation	7,181	6,702
Allowance for (recovery of) doubtful accounts	188	(1,295)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	4,013	4,961
Write-off of deferred financing costs, included in net loss on early extinguishment of debt	254	85
Amortization of debt discount/premium	480	1,498
Amortization of acquired in place lease value and deferred leasing costs	30,124	32,246
Amortization of acquired above market leases and acquired below market leases, net	(5,110)	(3,674)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Restricted cash	13,225	2,654
Accounts and other receivables	(3,413)	(7,224)
Deferred rent	(35,551)	(27,053)
Deferred leasing costs	(8,520)	(7,770)
Other assets	(8,757)	(12,915)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(12,384)	4,154
Security deposits and prepaid rents	(8,584)	1,212
Net cash provided by operating activities	231,200	189,723
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of real estate	(222,105)	(17,523)
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(30,592)	(244)
Deposits paid for acquisitions of real estate	(500)	(2,224)
Receipt of value added tax refund	6,793	5,623
Refundable value added tax paid	(9,269)	(7,674)
Change in restricted cash	3,857	118
Improvements to and advances for investments in real estate	(394,245)	(307,890)
Improvement advances to tenants	(1,798)	(2,935)
Collection of advances from tenants for improvements	1,427	1,728
Net cash used in investing activities	(646,432)	(331,021)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments on other secured loan	(10,500)
Principal payments on mortgage loans	(106,124)	(123,645)
Principal repayments on 2026 exchangeable senior debentures		(40,457)
Equity component settled associated with exchange of 2026 exchangeable senior debentures		(11,783)
Change in restricted cash	2,507	1,311
Payment of loan fees and costs	(5,452)	(3,825)
Capital contributions received from noncontrolling interests in joint ventures	2,253	42
Gross proceeds from the sale of common stock	63,346	179,583
Gross proceeds from issuance of Seried F preferred stock	182,500
Common stock offering costs paid	(583)	(3,317)
Preferred stock offering costs paid	(6,367)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	2,005	3,053
Payment of dividends/distributions to preferred stockholders/unitholders	(19,144)	(11,235)
Payment of dividends/distributions to common stockholders/unitholders and distributions to noncontrolling interests in operating partnership	(241,354)	(188,039)
Net cash provided by financing activities	422,378	157,479
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	7,146	16,181
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	40,631	11,719
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	47,777	27,900
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, including amounts capitalized	81,322	72,557
Cash paid for taxes	1,517	1,080
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in net assets related to foreign currency translation adjustments	1,301	25,037
Decrease (increase) in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	(2,888)	(947)
Noncontrolling interests in operating partnership redeemed for or converted to shares of common stock	3,221	6,434
Convertible preferred stock/units converted to shares of common stock/units	124,139
Accrual for additions to investments in real estate and tenant improvement advances included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	215,456	126,039
Issuance of common units associated with exchange of 2026 exchangeable senior debentures, net		230
Allocation of purchase price of real estate/investment in partnership to:
Investments in real estate	226,855	17,523
Acquired below market leases	(36,708)
Acquired in place lease value and deferred leasing costs	38,848
Mortgage loans assumed, net of premium	(6,890)
Cash paid for acquisition of real estate	222,105	17,523
5.250% Due 2021 [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on unsecured senior notes		399,100
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	103,231	77,240
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Loss on early extinguishment of debt-non cash portion		567
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	(4,882)	(2,266)
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	16,498	2,000
Write-off of net assets due to early lease terminations	337	81
Depreciation and amortization of buildings and improvements, tenant improvements and acquired ground leases	142,870	118,520
Amortization of share-based unearned compensation	7,181	6,702
Allowance for (recovery of) doubtful accounts	188	(1,295)
Amortization of deferred financing costs	4,013	4,961
Write-off of deferred financing costs, included in net loss on early extinguishment of debt	254	85
Amortization of debt discount/premium	480	1,498
Amortization of acquired in place lease value and deferred leasing costs	30,124	32,246
Amortization of acquired above market leases and acquired below market leases, net	(5,110)	(3,674)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Restricted cash	13,225	2,654
Accounts and other receivables	(3,413)	(7,224)
Deferred rent	(35,551)	(27,053)
Deferred leasing costs	(8,520)	(7,770)
Other assets	(8,757)	(12,915)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	(12,384)	4,154
Security deposits and prepaid rents	(8,584)	1,212
Net cash provided by operating activities	231,200	189,723
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of real estate	(222,105)	(17,523)
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(30,592)	(244)
Deposits paid for acquisitions of real estate	(500)	(2,224)
Receipt of value added tax refund	6,793	5,623
Refundable value added tax paid	(9,269)	(7,674)
Change in restricted cash	3,857	118
Improvements to and advances for investments in real estate	(394,245)	(307,890)
Improvement advances to tenants	(1,798)	(2,935)
Collection of advances from tenants for improvements	1,427	1,728
Net cash used in investing activities	(646,432)	(331,021)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments on other secured loan	(10,500)
Principal payments on mortgage loans	(106,124)	(123,645)
Principal repayments on 2026 exchangeable senior debentures		(40,457)
Equity component settled associated with exchange of 2026 exchangeable senior debentures		(11,783)
Change in restricted cash	2,507	1,311
Payment of loan fees and costs	(5,452)	(3,825)
Capital contributions received from noncontrolling interests in joint ventures	2,253	42
General partner contributions	240,901	179,319
Payment of dividends/distributions to preferred stockholders/unitholders	(19,144)	(11,235)
Payment of dividends/distributions to common stockholders/unitholders and distributions to noncontrolling interests in operating partnership	(241,354)	(188,039)
Net cash provided by financing activities	422,378	157,479
Net (decrease) increase in cash and cash equivalents	7,146	16,181
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	40,631	11,719
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	47,777	27,900
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest, including amounts capitalized	81,322	72,557
Cash paid for taxes	1,517	1,080
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in net assets related to foreign currency translation adjustments	1,301	25,037
Decrease (increase) in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	(2,888)	(947)
Convertible preferred stock/units converted to shares of common stock/units	124,139
Accrual for additions to investments in real estate and tenant improvement advances included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	215,456	126,039
Issuance of common units associated with exchange of 2026 exchangeable senior debentures, net		230
Allocation of purchase price of real estate/investment in partnership to:
Investments in real estate	226,855	17,523
Acquired below market leases	(36,708)
Acquired in place lease value and deferred leasing costs	38,848
Mortgage loans assumed, net of premium	(6,890)
Cash paid for acquisition of real estate	222,105	17,523
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member] | 5.250% Due 2021 [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on unsecured senior notes		399,100
Global Revolving Credit Facility [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on lines of credit	869,848	537,431
Repayments on lines of credit	(824,802)	(527,500)
Global Revolving Credit Facility [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on lines of credit	869,848	537,431
Repayments on lines of credit	(824,802)	(527,500)
Unsecured Term Loan [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on lines of credit	526,628
Unsecured Term Loan [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on lines of credit	$ 526,628