Consolidated Statements Of Capital (USD $)	3 Months Ended				12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2013	Mar. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Mar. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Dec. 31, 2011
Balance (units)		125,140,783			125,140,783
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units					$ 631,000	$ 23,757,000	$ 7,508,000
Net proceeds from issuance of common units						859,727,000	455,580,000
Issuance of common stock in exchange for debentures							(11,450,000)
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred units					241,468,000	176,071,000	277,292,000
Amortization of unearned compensation regarding share based awards					15,621,000	15,938,000	16,199,000
Net income	55,667,000	51,681,000	55,895,000	49,263,000	320,449,000	216,047,000	162,126,000
Other comprehensive income - foreign currency translation adjustments					14,636,000	48,303,000	(16,653,000)
Other comprehensive income - fair value of interest rate swaps					2,473,000	(7,693,000)	(3,185,000)
Other comprehensive income - reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive loss to interest expense					6,258,000	4,547,000	5,631,000
Balance (units)	128,455,350		125,140,783		128,455,350	125,140,783
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Balance		3,498,384,000		2,580,411,000	3,498,384,000	2,580,411,000	2,054,663,000
Net proceeds from issuance of common units					(504,000)	859,727,000	455,580,000
Issuance of common units in connection with the exercise of stock options					230,000	4,195,000	4,805,000
Issuance of common stock in exchange for debentures							(11,450,000)
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred units					241,468,000	176,071,000	277,292,000
Amortization of unearned compensation regarding share based awards					15,621,000	15,938,000	16,199,000
Distributions					(452,933,000)	(391,080,000)	(310,929,000)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint venture						(12,384,000)	(53,240,000)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures					430,000	4,302,000
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures							(428,000)
Net income	55,667,000	51,681,000	55,895,000	49,263,000	320,449,000	216,047,000	162,126,000
Other comprehensive income - foreign currency translation adjustments					14,636,000	48,303,000	(16,653,000)
Other comprehensive income - fair value of interest rate swaps					2,473,000	(7,693,000)	(3,185,000)
Other comprehensive income - reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive loss to interest expense					6,258,000	4,547,000	5,631,000
Balance	3,646,512,000		3,498,384,000		3,646,512,000	3,498,384,000	2,580,411,000
Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss), Net [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Balance		(14,910,000)		(60,067,000)	(14,910,000)	(60,067,000)	(45,860,000)
Other comprehensive income - foreign currency translation adjustments					14,636,000	48,303,000	(16,653,000)
Other comprehensive income - fair value of interest rate swaps					2,473,000	(7,693,000)	(3,185,000)
Other comprehensive income - reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive loss to interest expense					6,258,000	4,547,000	5,631,000
Balance	8,457,000		(14,910,000)		8,457,000	(14,910,000)	(60,067,000)
Noncontrolling Interests In Consolidated Joint Ventures [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Balance		5,944,000		12,437,000	5,944,000	12,437,000	39,709,000
Purchase of noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint venture						(10,351,000)	(26,520,000)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures					430,000	4,302,000
Distributions to noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures							(428,000)
Net income					595,000	(444,000)	(324,000)
Balance	6,969,000		5,944,000		6,969,000	5,944,000	12,437,000
General Partner [Member] | Preferred Units [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Balance		572,711,000		569,781,000	572,711,000	569,781,000	502,341,000
Balance (units)		23,736,505		23,603,419	23,736,505	23,603,419	20,787,255
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred units					241,468,000	176,071,000	277,292,000
Net proceeds from issuance of preferred units (units)					10,000,000	7,300,000	11,500,000
Conversion of preferred units					(119,348,000)	(173,141,000)	(209,852,000)
Conversion of preferred units (units)					(4,936,505)	(7,166,914)	(8,683,836)
Distributions					(42,905,000)	(38,672,000)	(25,397,000)
Net income					42,905,000	38,672,000	25,397,000
Balance	694,831,000		572,711,000		694,831,000	572,711,000	569,781,000
Balance (units)	28,800,000		23,736,505		28,800,000	23,736,505	23,603,419
General Partner [Member] | Common Units [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Balance		2,907,785,000		2,009,016,000	2,907,785,000	2,009,016,000	1,502,258,000
Balance (units)		125,140,783		106,039,279	125,140,783	106,039,279	91,159,221
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units					631,000	23,757,000	7,508,000
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)					57,138	2,234,860	658,723
Issuance of restricted common units, net of forfeitures (units)					112,245	94,709	79,119
Net proceeds from issuance of common units					(504,000)	859,727,000	455,580,000
Net proceeds from issuance of common units (units)						12,456,818	7,746,886
Issuance of common units in connection with the exercise of stock options					230,000	4,195,000	4,805,000
Issuance of common units in connection with the exercise of stock options (units)					5,569	208,200	123,777
Issuance of common stock in exchange for debentures							(11,450,000)
Issuance of common stock in exchange for debentures (shares/units)							1,087,820
Conversion of preferred units					119,348,000	173,141,000	209,852,000
Conversion of preferred units (units)					3,139,615	4,106,917	5,183,733
Amortization of unearned compensation regarding share based awards					15,621,000	15,938,000	16,199,000
Reclassification of vested share based awards					(8,999,000)	(8,544,000)	(8,472,000)
Distributions					(400,701,000)	(339,074,000)	(271,412,000)
Purchase of noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint venture						(2,033,000)	(26,720,000)
Net income					271,583,000	171,662,000	130,868,000
Balance	2,904,994,000		2,907,785,000		2,904,994,000	2,907,785,000	2,009,016,000
Balance (units)	128,455,350		125,140,783		128,455,350	125,140,783	106,039,279
Limited Partner [Member] | Common Units [Member] | Digital Realty Trust, L.P. [Member]
Balance		26,854,000		49,244,000	26,854,000	49,244,000	56,215,000
Balance (units)		2,851,400		4,936,130	2,851,400	4,936,130	5,463,449
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units					(631,000)	(23,757,000)	(7,508,000)
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)					(57,138)	(2,234,860)	(658,723)
Issuance of common units, net of forfeitures					172,759
Issuance of common units, net of forfeitures (units)						150,130	131,404
Reclassification of vested share based awards					8,999,000	8,544,000	8,472,000
Distributions					(9,327,000)	(13,334,000)	(14,120,000)
Net income					5,366,000	6,157,000	6,185,000
Balance	$ 31,261,000		$ 26,854,000		$ 31,261,000	$ 26,854,000	$ 49,244,000
Balance (units)	2,967,021		2,851,400		2,967,021	2,851,400	4,936,130