Capital and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) (Schedule of Distributions) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per share)	$ 25.00	$ 25.00
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock, liquidation preference per share/unit (in dollars per share)	25.00	$ 25.00
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)	1.65625
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)	1.46875
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)	1.58750
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Potentially dilutive Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)	1.31250
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Potentially dilutive Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)	1.46250
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Series L Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)	1.30000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Common stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 4.48000
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | February 27, 2020 | Series C Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	$ 3,333
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | February 27, 2020 | Series G Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,672
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | February 27, 2020 | Series I Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,969
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | February 27, 2020 | Potentially dilutive Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	2,625
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | February 27, 2020 | Potentially dilutive Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	3,071
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | February 27, 2020 | Series L Preferred Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, preferred units	4,485
Digital Realty Trust, L.P. | February 27, 2020 | Common Units
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends/Distributions, common stock/units	$ 305,267