Condensed Consolidated Statements Of Cash Flows - USD ($) $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2015	Jun. 30, 2014
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	$ 260,322	$ 108,049
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on sale of properties	(94,489)	(15,945)
Gain on contribution of investment property to unconsolidated joint venture	0	(1,906)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	(8,001)	(6,058)
Change in fair value of accrued contingent consideration	(42,682)	(2,637)
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	6,898	4,603
Write-off of net assets due to early lease terminations	(59)	651
Depreciation and amortization of buildings and improvements, tenant improvements and acquired ground leases	226,767	225,025
Amortization of share-based unearned compensation	7,483	12,640
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(39)	954
Amortization of deferred financing costs	4,285	4,487
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	148	585
Amortization of debt discount/premium	915	864
Amortization of acquired in-place lease value and deferred leasing costs	33,830	42,687
Amortization of acquired above-market leases and acquired below-market leases, net	(4,683)	(5,340)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Restricted cash	566	1,922
Accounts and other receivables	4,826	20,583
Deferred rent	(27,868)	(41,283)
Deferred leasing costs	(4,675)	(7,663)
Other assets	(15,429)	(13,328)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	4,344	3,718
Security deposits and prepaid rents	2,692	(17,344)
Net cash provided by operating activities	355,151	315,264
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of real estate	(48,424)	0
Proceeds from sale of properties, net	185,565	37,945
Proceeds from contribution of investment properties to unconsolidated joint ventures	0	11,408
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(7,547)	(20,627)
Investment in equity securities	0	(3)
Receipt of value added tax refund	13,422	4,956
Refundable value added tax paid	(2,771)	(3,816)
Change in restricted cash	1,484	(1,340)
Improvements to and advances for investments in real estate	(380,148)	(431,217)
Improvement advances to tenants	(17,881)	(7,091)
Collection of advances from tenants for improvements	14,441	5,969
Net cash used in investing activities	(241,859)	(403,816)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	1,291,832	677,264
Repayments on revolving credit facility	(1,032,798)	(1,033,838)
Principal payments on unsecured notes	(374,927)	0
Repayments on other unsecured loans	(67,000)	0
Principal payments on mortgage loans	(4,440)	(6,349)
Earnout payments related to acquisitions	(12,985)	(5,706)
Change in restricted cash	113	51
Payment of loan fees and costs	(3,741)	(5,311)
Capital distributions paid to noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net	(245)	(274)
Gross proceeds from the issuance of preferred stock	0	365,000
Common stock offering costs paid	(273)	(93)
Preferred stock offering costs paid	0	(11,622)
Proceeds from exercise of stock options	493	237
Payment of dividends/distributions to preferred stockholders/unitholders	(36,911)	(30,555)
Payment of dividends/distributions to common unit/stockholders and distributions to noncontrolling interests in operating partnership	(350,769)	(326,772)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(95,461)	112,670
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	17,831	24,118
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	41,321	56,808
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	59,152	80,926
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	101,036	98,240
Cash paid for income taxes	1,785	2,800
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in net assets related to foreign currency translation adjustments	(22,375)	8,740
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	(1,840)	(6,082)
Noncontrolling interests in operating partnership redeemed for or converted to shares of common stock	1,312	191
Accrual for additions to investments in real estate and tenant improvement advances included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	134,625	191,148
Issuance of common units associated with exchange of exchangeable senior debentures	0	261,166
Note receivable related to sale of property	9,000	0
Investments in real estate	48,424	0
Cash paid for acquisition of real estate	48,424	0
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Cash flows from operating activities:
Net income	260,322	108,049
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Gain on sale of properties	(94,489)	(15,945)
Gain on contribution of investment property to unconsolidated joint venture	0	(1,906)
Equity in earnings of unconsolidated joint ventures	(8,001)	(6,058)
Change in fair value of accrued contingent consideration	(42,682)	(2,637)
Distributions from unconsolidated joint ventures	6,898	4,603
Write-off of net assets due to early lease terminations	(59)	651
Depreciation and amortization of buildings and improvements, tenant improvements and acquired ground leases	226,767	225,025
Amortization of share-based unearned compensation	7,483	12,640
Allowance for doubtful accounts	(39)	954
Amortization of deferred financing costs	4,285	4,487
Loss on early extinguishment of debt	148	585
Amortization of debt discount/premium	915	864
Amortization of acquired in-place lease value and deferred leasing costs	33,830	42,687
Amortization of acquired above-market leases and acquired below-market leases, net	(4,683)	(5,340)
Changes in assets and liabilities:
Restricted cash	566	1,922
Accounts and other receivables	4,826	20,583
Deferred rent	(27,868)	(41,283)
Deferred leasing costs	(4,675)	(7,663)
Other assets	(15,429)	(13,328)
Accounts payable and other accrued liabilities	4,344	3,718
Security deposits and prepaid rents	2,692	(17,344)
Net cash provided by operating activities	355,151	315,264
Cash flows from investing activities:
Acquisitions of real estate	(48,424)	0
Proceeds from sale of properties, net	185,565	37,945
Proceeds from contribution of investment properties to unconsolidated joint ventures	0	11,408
Investment in unconsolidated joint ventures	(7,547)	(20,627)
Investment in equity securities	0	(3)
Receipt of value added tax refund	13,422	4,956
Refundable value added tax paid	(2,771)	(3,816)
Change in restricted cash	1,484	(1,340)
Improvements to and advances for investments in real estate	(380,148)	(431,217)
Improvement advances to tenants	(17,881)	(7,091)
Collection of advances from tenants for improvements	14,441	5,969
Net cash used in investing activities	(241,859)	(403,816)
Cash flows from financing activities:
Borrowings on revolving credit facility	1,291,832	677,264
Repayments on revolving credit facility	(1,032,798)	(1,033,838)
Principal payments on unsecured notes	(374,927)	0
Repayments on other unsecured loans	(67,000)	0
Principal payments on mortgage loans	(4,440)	(6,349)
Principal repayments on exchangeable senior debentures	0	(5,234)
Earnout payments related to acquisitions	(12,985)	(5,706)
Change in restricted cash	113	51
Payment of loan fees and costs	(3,741)	(5,311)
Capital distributions paid to noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net	(245)	(274)
General partner contributions, net	220	353,522
Payment of dividends/distributions to preferred stockholders/unitholders	(36,911)	(30,555)
Payment of dividends/distributions to common unit/stockholders and distributions to noncontrolling interests in operating partnership	(350,769)	(326,772)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(95,461)	112,670
Net increase (decrease) in cash and cash equivalents	17,831	24,118
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of period	41,321	56,808
Cash and cash equivalents at end of period	59,152	80,926
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information:
Cash paid for interest	101,036	98,240
Cash paid for income taxes	1,785	2,800
Supplementary disclosure of noncash investing and financing activities:
Change in net assets related to foreign currency translation adjustments	(22,375)	8,740
(Decrease) increase in accounts payable and other accrued liabilities related to change in fair value of interest rate swaps	(1,840)	(6,082)
Accrual for additions to investments in real estate and tenant improvement advances included in accounts payable and accrued expenses	134,625	191,148
Issuance of common units associated with exchange of exchangeable senior debentures	0	261,166
Note receivable related to sale of property	9,000	0
Investments in real estate	48,424	0
Cash paid for acquisition of real estate	48,424	0
3.950% notes due 2022
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments on other unsecured loans	496,190	0
3.950% notes due 2022 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments on other unsecured loans	496,190	0
4.750% notes due 2023
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments on other unsecured loans	0	495,872
4.750% notes due 2023 | Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Cash flows from financing activities:
Repayments on other unsecured loans	$ 0	$ 495,872