Percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument.

No definition available.

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadOnVariableRate1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Effective interest rate for the funds borrowed under the debt agreement considering interest compounding and original issue discount or premium.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.22(a)(1))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 2
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6451184&loc=d3e28551-108399

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateEffectivePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

Line items represent financial concepts included in a table. These concepts are used to disclose reportable information associated with domain members defined in one or many axes to the table.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentLineItems
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:stringItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Period of time between issuance and maturity of debt instrument, in PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentTerm
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Maximum borrowing capacity under the credit facility without consideration of any current restrictions on the amount that could be borrowed or the amounts currently outstanding under the facility.

+ References

+ Details

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Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_LineOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
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- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=eqix_A2013BrazilFinancingMember
Namespace Prefix:
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Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=eqix_A2012BrazilFinancingMember
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Debt Facilities - Brazil Financings (Details) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended
	Nov. 30, 2013 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2012 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015	Nov. 30, 2013 BRL	Jun. 30, 2012 BRL
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Effective interest rate (percent)			8.17%
Line of Credit [Member] \| 2013 Brazil Financing [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 25,536			BRL 60,318,000
Debt term (in years)	5 years
Variable rate (percent)	2.25%
Effective interest rate (percent)			16.39%
Line of Credit [Member] \| 2012 Brazil Financing [Member]
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity		$ 48,807			BRL 100,000,000
Debt term (in years)		5 years
Variable rate (percent)		2.75%
Effective interest rate (percent)			16.89%