Earnings per Common Share or Unit - Summary of Basic and Diluted Earnings per Share and Unit (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2021	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019
Class of Stock
Net (loss) income available to common stockholders	$ 1,681,498	$ 263,342	$ 493,011
Weighted average units outstanding-basic (shares/units)	282,474,927	260,098,978	208,325,823
Potentially dilutive common shares/units:
Unvested incentive units (shares/units)	253,344	120,775	165,185
Unvested restricted stock (shares/units)	191,541	177,244
Forward equity offering (shares/units)		1,596,476	813,073
Market performance-based awards (shares/units)	302,156	529,035	158,166
Weighted average shares/units outstanding-diluted (shares/units)	283,221,968	262,522,508	209,462,247
Income (loss) per share/unit:
Basic (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 5.95	$ 1.01	$ 2.37
Diluted (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 5.94	$ 1.00	$ 2.35
Digital Realty Trust, L.P.
Class of Stock
Net (loss) income available to common stockholders	$ 1,720,598	$ 272,842	$ 514,111
Weighted average units outstanding-basic (shares/units)	289,165,448	268,072,983	217,284,755
Potentially dilutive common shares/units:
Unvested incentive units (shares/units)	253,344	120,775	165,185
Unvested restricted stock (shares/units)	191,541	177,244
Forward equity offering (shares/units)		1,596,476	813,073
Market performance-based awards (shares/units)	302,156	529,035	158,166
Weighted average shares/units outstanding-diluted (shares/units)	289,912,489	270,496,513	218,421,179
Income (loss) per share/unit:
Basic (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 5.95	$ 1.02	$ 2.37
Diluted (in dollars per share/unit)	$ 5.94	$ 1.01	$ 2.35