Debt Of The Operating Partnership (Summary Of Outstanding Indebtedness Of The Operating Partnership - Exchangeable Senior Debentures) (Details) (USD $) In Thousands, unless otherwise specified				12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended		12 Months Ended					12 Months Ended
	Jan. 18, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011	Dec. 31, 2012 Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member] item	Dec. 31, 2011 Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 5.50% Exchangeable Senior Debentures Due 2029 [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Apr. 20, 2009 5.50% Exchangeable Senior Debentures Due 2029 [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Exchangeable Senior Debentures [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Exchangeable Senior Debentures [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]		Dec. 31, 2011 Exchangeable Senior Debentures [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Exchangeable Senior Debentures [Member] 5.50% Exchangeable Senior Debentures Due 2029 [Member]	Dec. 31, 2012 Exchangeable Senior Debentures [Member] 5.50% Exchangeable Senior Debentures Due 2029 [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]	Dec. 31, 2011 Exchangeable Senior Debentures [Member] 5.50% Exchangeable Senior Debentures Due 2029 [Member] Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Debt of the Operating Partnership [Line Items]
Interest Rate	4.25%						5.50%	4.125%				5.50%	5.50%
Maturity Date						Apr. 15, 2029		Aug. 15, 2026					Apr. 15, 2029
Exchangeable senior debentures net of discount		$ 266,400	$ 266,400	$ 266,400	$ 266,400				$ 266,400	[1]	$ 266,400		$ 266,400	$ 266,400
Purchase price/Redemption price percentage of debenture principal				100

[1] Assumes maturity of the 2029 Debentures at their first redemption date in April 2014.