CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF EQUITY (unaudited) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Interest Rate Swap	Redeemable Noncontrolling Interests -- Operating Partnership	Preferred Stock	Common Stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Accumulated Dividends in Excess of Earnings	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net Interest Rate Swap	Total Stockholders’ Equity	Total Stockholders’ Equity Interest Rate Swap	Noncontrolling Interests in Operating Partnership	Noncontrolling Interests in Operating Partnership Interest Rate Swap	Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Joint Ventures	Total Noncontrolling Interests	Total Noncontrolling Interests Interest Rate Swap	Digital Realty Trust, L.P.	Digital Realty Trust, L.P. Interest Rate Swap	Total Partners' Capital Digital Realty Trust, L.P.	Total Partners' Capital Digital Realty Trust, L.P. Interest Rate Swap	Redeemable Limited Partner Common Units Digital Realty Trust, L.P.	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net Digital Realty Trust, L.P.	Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net Digital Realty Trust, L.P. Interest Rate Swap	Noncontrolling Interests in Consolidated Joint Ventures Digital Realty Trust, L.P.	General Partner Preferred Units Digital Realty Trust, L.P.	General Partner Common Units Digital Realty Trust, L.P.	Limited Partners Common Units Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Number of units (units)																									50,650,000	205,470,300	8,489,095
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 11,049,450		$ 53,902	$ 1,249,560	$ 2,044	$ 11,261,461	$ (2,055,552)	$ (108,432)		$ 10,349,081		$ 698,126		$ 2,243	$ 700,369
Beginning balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2017					205,470,300
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Conversion of common units to common stock					$ 6	49,690				49,696		(49,696)			(49,696)
Conversion of common units to common stock (shares)					567,792
Issuance of unvested restricted stock, net of forfeitures (shares)					206,264
Shares issued under employee stock purchase plan	5,874					5,874				5,874							$ 5,874		$ 5,874							$ 5,874
Shares issued under employee stock purchase plan (shares)					69,532																					69,532
Shares repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting	(4,952)				$ (1)	(4,951)				(4,952)							(4,952)		(4,952)							$ (4,952)
Shares repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting (shares)					(46,833)																					(46,833)
Payment of offering costs	(1,292)					(1,292)				(1,292)
Amortization of share-based compensation	25,213					25,213				25,213							25,213		25,213							$ 25,213
Reclassification of vested share-based awards						(3,631)				(3,631)		3,631			3,631
Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interests—operating partnership	36,349		(36,349)			671				671		35,678			35,678
Dividends declared on preferred stock	(60,987)						(60,987)			(60,987)
Dividends and distributions on common stock and common and incentive units	(649,810)						(624,252)			(624,252)		(25,558)			(25,558)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of distributions	63,745													63,745	63,745
Net income (loss)	288,518						279,687			279,687		8,880		(49)	8,831		288,518		288,567					$ (49)	$ 60,987	$ 218,700	$ 8,880
Other comprehensive income (loss)—foreign currency translation adjustments	(8,608)							(8,272)		(8,272)		(336)			(336)		(8,608)		(8,608)			$ (8,608)
Other comprehensive loss—fair value of interest rate swaps	16,336	$ 16,336							$ 15,705		$ 15,705		$ 631			$ 631	16,336	$ 16,336		$ 16,336			$ 16,336
Other comprehensive loss—reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense	(2,289)							(2,202)		(2,202)		(87)			(87)		(2,289)		(2,289)			(2,289)
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2018	10,763,462		17,553	1,249,560	$ 2,049	11,333,035	(2,455,189)	(103,201)		10,026,254		671,269		65,939	737,208
Ending balance (shares) at Sep. 30, 2018					206,267,055
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)																										567,792	(567,792)
Noncontrolling interests in operating partnership converted to shares of common stock	49,696																									$ 49,696	$ (49,696)
Issuance of unvested restricted common units (units)																										206,264
Payment of offering costs																	(1,292)		(1,292)							$ (1,292)
Issuance of common units, net of forfeitures (units)																											419,284
Reclassification of vested share-based awards																										(3,631)	$ 3,631
Adjustment to redeemable partnership units																	36,349		36,349		$ (36,349)					671	35,678
Partners' Capital Account, Distributions																	(710,797)		(710,797)						$ (60,987)	$ (624,252)	$ (25,558)
Distributions From Noncontrolling Interests In Consolidated Joint Ventures Subsidiary																	63,745							63,745
Number of units (units)																									50,650,000	206,055,117	8,498,032
Beginning balance at Jun. 30, 2018	10,796,928		52,805	1,249,560	$ 2,047	11,310,132	(2,314,291)	(107,070)		10,140,378		654,261		2,289	656,550
Beginning balance (shares) at Jun. 30, 2018					206,055,117
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Conversion of common units to common stock					$ 2	13,867				13,869		(13,869)			(13,869)
Conversion of common units to common stock (shares)					161,153
Issuance of unvested restricted stock, net of forfeitures (shares)					13,146
Shares issued under employee stock purchase plan	3,365					3,365				3,365							3,365		3,365							$ 3,365
Shares issued under employee stock purchase plan (shares)					37,639																					37,639
Shares repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting	(234)					(234)				(234)							(234)		(234)							$ (234)
Shares repurchased and retired to satisfy tax withholding upon vesting (shares)																										0
Payment of offering costs	(640)					(640)				(640)
Amortization of share-based compensation	7,755					7,755				7,755							7,755		7,755							$ 7,755
Reclassification of vested share-based awards						(784)				(784)		784			784
Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interests—operating partnership	35,252		(35,252)			(426)				(426)		35,678			35,678
Dividends declared on preferred stock	(20,329)						(20,329)			(20,329)
Dividends and distributions on common stock and common and incentive units	(216,604)						(208,166)			(208,166)		(8,438)			(8,438)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of distributions	63,683													63,683	63,683
Net income (loss)	90,264						87,597			87,597		2,700		(33)	2,667		90,264		90,297		0			(33)	$ 20,329	$ 67,268	$ 2,700
Other comprehensive income (loss)—foreign currency translation adjustments	2,368							2,278		2,278		90			90		2,368		2,368			2,368		0
Other comprehensive loss—fair value of interest rate swaps	2,925	2,925							2,814		2,814		111			111	2,925	2,925		2,925			2,925
Other comprehensive loss—reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense	(1,271)							(1,223)		(1,223)		(48)			(48)		(1,271)		(1,271)			(1,271)
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2018	$ 10,763,462		17,553	1,249,560	$ 2,049	11,333,035	(2,455,189)	(103,201)		10,026,254		$ 671,269		65,939	737,208
Ending balance (shares) at Sep. 30, 2018					206,267,055
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)																										161,153	(161,153)
Noncontrolling interests in operating partnership converted to shares of common stock																										$ 13,869	$ (13,869)
Issuance of unvested restricted common units (units)																										13,146
Payment of offering costs																	(640)		(640)							$ (640)
Issuance of common units, net of forfeitures (units)																											3,708
Reclassification of vested share-based awards																										(784)	$ 784
Adjustment to redeemable partnership units																	35,252		35,252		(35,252)					(426)	35,678
Partners' Capital Account, Distributions																	(236,933)		(236,933)		0				$ (20,329)	$ (208,166)	$ (8,438)
Distributions From Noncontrolling Interests In Consolidated Joint Ventures Subsidiary																	63,683							63,683
Number of units (units)																									50,650,000	206,267,055	8,340,587
Number of units (units)	206,425,656											217,006,540													50,650,000	206,425,656	10,580,884
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 10,858,210		15,832	1,249,560	$ 2,051	11,355,751	(2,633,071)	(115,647)		9,858,644		$ 906,510		93,056	999,566
Beginning balance (shares) at Dec. 31, 2018					206,425,656
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Conversion of common units to common stock					$ 18	163,843				163,861		(163,861)			(163,861)
Conversion of common units to common stock (shares)					1,841,692
Issuance of unvested restricted stock, net of forfeitures (shares)					252,122
Shares issued under employee stock purchase plan	5,462					5,462				5,462							5,462		5,462							$ 5,462
Shares issued under employee stock purchase plan (shares)					63,774																					63,774
Payment of offering costs	(1,258)					(1,258)				(1,258)
Issuance of series K preferred stock, net of offering costs	203,264			203,264						203,264							203,264		203,264						$ 203,264
Redemption of series H preferred stock	(365,050)			(353,290)			(11,760)			(365,050)							(365,050)		(365,050)						(353,290)	$ (11,760)
Amortization of share-based compensation	28,774					28,774				28,774							28,774		28,774							28,774
Reclassification of vested share-based awards						(7,962)				(7,962)		7,962			7,962
Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interests—operating partnership	(3,630)		3,630			(3,630)				(3,630)
Dividends declared on preferred stock	(54,283)						(54,283)			(54,283)
Dividends and distributions on common stock and common and incentive units	(704,028)		(507)				(674,713)			(674,713)		(29,315)			(29,315)
Contributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of distributions	60,961													60,961	60,961
Deconsolidation of consolidated joint venture	(110,086)													(110,086)	(110,086)		(110,086)							(110,086)
Net income (loss)	249,760		135				243,477			243,477		7,865		(1,582)	6,283		249,760		251,342		135			(1,582)	54,283	$ 189,194	$ 7,865
Other comprehensive income (loss)—foreign currency translation adjustments	66,511							63,725		63,725		2,786		0	2,786		66,511		66,511			66,511		0
Other comprehensive loss—fair value of interest rate swaps	(11,379)	(11,379)							(10,901)		(10,901)		(478)			(478)	(11,379)	(11,379)		(11,379)			(11,379)
Other comprehensive loss—reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense	(6,055)							(5,802)		(5,802)		(253)			(253)		(6,055)		(6,055)			(6,055)
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2019	10,210,855		19,090	1,099,534	$ 2,069	11,540,980	(3,136,668)	(68,625)		9,437,290		731,216		42,349	773,565
Ending balance (shares) at Sep. 30, 2019					208,583,244
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)																										1,841,692	(1,841,692)
Noncontrolling interests in operating partnership converted to shares of common stock	163,861																									$ 163,861	$ (163,861)
Issuance of unvested restricted common units (units)																										252,122
Payment of offering costs																	(1,258)		(1,258)							$ (1,258)
Issuance of common units, net of forfeitures (units)																											404,789
Reclassification of vested share-based awards																										(7,962)	$ 7,962
Adjustment to redeemable partnership units																	(3,630)		(3,630)		3,630					(3,630)
Partners' Capital Account, Distributions																	(758,311)		(758,311)		(507)				$ (54,283)	$ (674,713)	$ (29,315)
Distributions From Noncontrolling Interests In Consolidated Joint Ventures Subsidiary																	60,961							60,961
Number of units (units)																									44,450,000	208,324,538	9,370,049
Beginning balance at Jun. 30, 2019	10,473,720		17,344	1,099,534	$ 2,067	11,511,519	(2,961,307)	(89,588)		9,562,225		756,050		155,445	911,495
Beginning balance (shares) at Jun. 30, 2019					208,324,538
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Conversion of common units to common stock					$ 2	18,753				18,755		(18,755)			(18,755)
Conversion of common units to common stock (shares)					218,752
Issuance of unvested restricted stock, net of forfeitures (shares)					1,414
Shares issued under employee stock purchase plan	3,203					3,203				3,203							3,203		3,203							$ 3,203
Shares issued under employee stock purchase plan (shares)					38,540																					38,540
Payment of offering costs	(282)					(282)				(282)
Amortization of share-based compensation	9,913					9,913				9,913							9,913		9,913							$ 9,913
Reclassification of vested share-based awards						(250)				(250)		250			250
Adjustment to redeemable noncontrolling interests—operating partnership	(1,876)		1,876			(1,876)				(1,876)
Dividends declared on preferred stock	(16,670)						(16,670)			(16,670)
Dividends and distributions on common stock and common and incentive units	(234,678)		(169)				(225,188)			(225,188)		(9,490)			(9,490)
Distributions from noncontrolling interests in consolidated joint ventures, net of contributions	(1,787)													(1,787)	(1,787)
Deconsolidation of consolidated joint venture	(110,086)													(110,086)	(110,086)		(110,086)							(110,086)
Net income (loss)	67,535		39				66,497			66,497		2,261		(1,223)	1,038		67,535		68,758		39			(1,223)	$ 16,670	$ 49,827	$ 2,261
Other comprehensive income (loss)—foreign currency translation adjustments	24,668							23,652		23,652		1,016		0	1,016		24,668		24,668			24,668		0
Other comprehensive loss—fair value of interest rate swaps	(1,000)	$ (1,000)							$ (958)		$ (958)		$ (42)			$ (42)	(1,000)	$ (1,000)		$ (1,000)			$ (1,000)
Other comprehensive loss—reclassification of accumulated other comprehensive income to interest expense	(1,805)							(1,731)		(1,731)		(74)			(74)		(1,805)		(1,805)			$ (1,805)
Ending balance at Sep. 30, 2019	$ 10,210,855		$ 19,090	$ 1,099,534	$ 2,069	$ 11,540,980	$ (3,136,668)	$ (68,625)		$ 9,437,290		$ 731,216		$ 42,349	$ 773,565
Ending balance (shares) at Sep. 30, 2019					208,583,244
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Conversion of limited partner common units to general partner common units (units)																										218,752	(218,752)
Noncontrolling interests in operating partnership converted to shares of common stock																										$ 18,755	$ (18,755)
Issuance of unvested restricted common units (units)																										1,414
Payment of offering costs																	(282)		(282)							$ (282)
Issuance of common units, net of forfeitures (units)																											(7,316)
Reclassification of vested share-based awards																										(250)	$ 250
Adjustment to redeemable partnership units																	(1,876)		(1,876)		1,876					(1,876)
Partners' Capital Account, Distributions																	(251,348)		$ (251,348)		$ (169)				$ (16,670)	$ (225,188)	$ (9,490)
Distributions From Noncontrolling Interests In Consolidated Joint Ventures Subsidiary																	$ (1,787)							$ (1,787)
Number of units (units)	208,583,244											217,727,225													44,450,000	208,583,244	9,143,981