Debt of the Operating Partnership (Weighted-average Interest Rate by Denomination of Draw) (Details) - Digital Realty Trust, L.P. $ in Thousands	Jun. 30, 2018 USD ($) $ / $ $ / ¥ $ / £ $ / $ $ / $ $ / $	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($) $ / $ $ / ¥ $ / £ $ / $ $ / $ $ / $
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 9,173,385
Unsecured Term Loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 1,380,867	$ 1,425,117
Weighted-average interest rate	2.82%	2.42%
Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 7,214,000
Interest Rate Swap | Unsecured Term Loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted-average interest rate	2.53%	2.41%
U.S. dollar ($) | Unsecured Term Loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 606,911	$ 606,911
Weighted-average interest rate	3.39%	2.78%
U.S. dollar ($) | Interest Rate Swap | Unsecured Term Loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted-average interest rate	2.72%	2.72%
British pound sterling (£) | Unsecured Term Loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 223,825	$ 229,011
Weighted-average interest rate	1.61%	1.59%
Exchange rate | $ / £	1.32	1.35
British pound sterling (£) | Interest Rate Swap | Unsecured Term Loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted-average interest rate	1.89%	1.89%
Singapore dollar (SGD) | Unsecured Term Loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 207,914	$ 233,788
Weighted-average interest rate	2.49%	2.17%
Exchange rate | $ / $	0.73	0.75
Australian dollar (AUD) | Unsecured Term Loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 170,537	$ 179,841
Weighted-average interest rate	3.02%	2.79%
Exchange rate | $ / $	0.74	0.78
Hong Kong dollar (HKD) | Unsecured Term Loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 85,028	$ 85,762
Weighted-average interest rate	2.75%	2.20%
Exchange rate | $ / $	0.13	0.13
Canadian dollar (CAD) | Unsecured Term Loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 74,998	$ 78,357
Weighted-average interest rate	2.74%	2.44%
Exchange rate | $ / $	0.76	0.80
Canadian dollar (CAD) | Interest Rate Swap | Unsecured Term Loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Weighted-average interest rate	1.88%	1.88%
Japanese yen (JPY) | Unsecured Term Loans
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Long-term debt, gross	$ 11,654	$ 11,447
Weighted-average interest rate	1.02%	1.05%
Exchange rate | $ / ¥	0.01	0.01