<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0508</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2026-03-02</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001101239</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>EQUINIX INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>EQIX</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0002039256</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>Pletcher Kurt</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O EQUINIX INC.</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>ONE LAGOON DRIVE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>REDWOOD CITY</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>CA</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>94065</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isOfficer>1</isOfficer>
            <officerTitle>Chief Legal Officer</officerTitle>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <aff10b5One>1</aff10b5One>

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                <value>Common Stock</value>
            </securityTitle>
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            </transactionDate>
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            </transactionCoding>
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                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionPricePerShare>
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                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
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                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
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            </ownershipNature>
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                </transactionShares>
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                    <footnoteId id="F19"/>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>4108.955</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Restricted Stock Units</value>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2026-03-02</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>M</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>142</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>D</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F20"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F21"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>142</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>0</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">Shares were sold pursuant to a 10b5-1 Trading Plan in order to raise funds to pay the required withholding tax pursuant to the vesting of RSUs.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F2">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.   These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $948.02 to $948.98, inclusive.  The reporting person undertakes to provide to Equinix, Inc, any security holder of Equinix Inc, or the staff of the Securities and Exchange Commission, upon request, full information regarding the number of shares sold at each separate price within the ranges set forth in footnotes 3 through 19 to this Form 4.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F3">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $949.075 to $950.02 inclusive.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F4">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $950.21 to $951.21 inclusive.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F5">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $951.37 to $952.19 inclusive.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F6">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $952.665 to $953.65 inclusive.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F7">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $953.71 to $954.61 inclusive.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F8">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $954.765 to $955.735 inclusive.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F9">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $955.77 to $956.77 inclusive.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F10">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $956.79 to $957.78 inclusive.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F11">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $957.81 to $958.81 inclusive.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F12">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $958.84 to $959.81 inclusive.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F13">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $959.89 to $960.86 inclusive.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F14">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $960.94 to $961.925 inclusive.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F15">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $961.95 to $962.92 inclusive.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F16">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $962.98 to $963.8125 inclusive.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F17">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $964.00 to $965.00 inclusive.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F18">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $965.17 to $965.71 inclusive.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F19">The price reported in Column 4 is a weighted average price.  These shares were sold in multiple transactions at prices ranging from $967.69 to $968.62 inclusive.</footnote>
        <footnote id="F20">143 shares (12.5% of the total shares awarded) scheduled to vest on March 1, 2025 and an additional 12.5% each 6 months thereafter until fully vested, subject solely to continued service</footnote>
        <footnote id="F21">Restricted stock unit award expires upon reporting person's termination of service.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Samantha Lagocki, POA</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2026-03-04</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
