Equity and Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss, Net (Schedule of Dividends) (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 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
Series C Preferred Stock
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock	$ 6,666
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share)	$ 1.65625
Series C Preferred Stock | February 27, 2020
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock	$ 3,333
Series C Preferred Stock | May 12, 2020
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock	3,333
Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock	$ 7,344
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share)	$ 1.46875
Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | February 27, 2020
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock	$ 3,672
Series G Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | May 12, 2020
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock	3,672
Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock	$ 7,938
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share)	$ 1.58750
Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | February 27, 2020
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock	$ 3,969
Series I Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | May 12, 2020
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock	3,969
Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock	$ 5,250
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share)	$ 1.31250
Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | February 27, 2020
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock	$ 2,625
Series J Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | May 12, 2020
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock	2,625
Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock	$ 6,142
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share)	$ 1.46250
Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | February 27, 2020
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock	$ 3,071
Series K Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | May 12, 2020
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock	3,071
Series L Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock	$ 8,970
Preferred stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share)	$ 1.30000
Series L Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | February 27, 2020
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock	$ 4,485
Series L Cumulative Redeemable Preferred Stock | May 12, 2020
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock	4,485
Common Stock
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock	$ 596,635
Common stock dividend per share amount (in dollars per share)	$ 4.48000
Common Stock | February 27, 2020
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, common stock	$ 295,630
Common Stock | May 12, 2020
Dividends Payable [Line Items]
Dividends, preferred stock	$ 301,005