Condensed Consolidated Balance Sheets (Parenthetical) - USD ($)	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2016	Dec. 31, 2015
Accounts and other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 3,913,000	$ 5,844,000
Preferred Stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Preferred Stock, authorized	70,000,000	70,000,000
Common Stock, par value	$ 0.01	$ 0.01
Common Stock, authorized	215,000,000	215,000,000
Common Stock, shares, issued	146,797,648	146,384,247
Common Stock, shares, outstanding	146,797,648	146,384,247
Series E Preferred Units
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	7.00%	7.00%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 287,500,000	$ 287,500,000
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock, issued (shares)	11,500,000	11,500,000
Preferred Stock, outstanding (shares)	11,500,000	11,500,000
Series F Preferred Units
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	6.625%	6.625%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 182,500,000	$ 182,500,000
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock, issued (shares)	7,300,000	7,300,000
Preferred Stock, outstanding (shares)	7,300,000	7,300,000
Series G Preferred Units
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	5.875%	5.875%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 250,000,000	$ 250,000,000
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock, issued (shares)	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred Stock, outstanding (shares)	10,000,000	10,000,000
Series H Preferred Units
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	7.375%	7.375%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 365,000,000	$ 365,000,000
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock, issued (shares)	14,600,000	14,600,000
Preferred Stock, outstanding (shares)	14,600,000	14,600,000
Series I Preferred Stock
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	6.35%	6.35%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 250,000,000	$ 250,000,000
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25	$ 25
Preferred stock, issued (shares)	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred Stock, outstanding (shares)	10,000,000	10,000,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Accounts and other receivables, net of allowance for doubtful accounts	$ 3,913,000	$ 5,844,000
Common Units, issued	146,797,648	146,384,247
Common Units, outstanding	146,797,648	146,384,247
Limited Partners, common units	1,221,314	1,421,314
Limited Partners, profits interest units	995,999	1,170,610
Limited Partners, Class C units outstanding	379,237	379,237
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series E Preferred Units
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	7.00%	7.00%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 287,500,000	$ 287,500,000
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Preferred Units, issued	11,500,000	11,500,000
Preferred Units, outstanding	11,500,000	11,500,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series F Preferred Units
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	6.625%	6.625%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 182,500,000	$ 182,500,000
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Preferred Units, issued	7,300,000	7,300,000
Preferred Units, outstanding	7,300,000	7,300,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series G Preferred Units
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	5.875%	5.875%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 250,000,000	$ 250,000,000
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Preferred Units, issued	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred Units, outstanding	10,000,000	10,000,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series H Preferred Units
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	7.375%	7.375%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 365,000,000	$ 365,000,000
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Preferred Units, issued	14,600,000	14,600,000
Preferred Units, outstanding	14,600,000	14,600,000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series I Preferred Stock
Preferred Stock, dividend rate	6.35%	6.35%
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference value	$ 250,000,000	$ 250,000,000
Preferred Stock, liquidation preference per share/unit	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Preferred Units, issued	10,000,000	10,000,000
Preferred Units, outstanding	10,000,000	10,000,000