Debt Instrument, Basis Spread, Margin On Rate

No definition available.

Name:	eqix_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadMarginOnRate
Namespace Prefix:	eqix_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Basis Spread on Variable Rate, Minimum

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	eqix_DebtInstrumentBasisSpreadonVariableRateMinimum
Namespace Prefix:	eqix_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument Periodic Payment, Factor, Denominator

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	eqix_DebtInstrumentPeriodicPaymentFactorDenominator
Namespace Prefix:	eqix_
Data Type:	xbrli:pureItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument Periodic Payment, Factor, Result of Instrument

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	eqix_DebtInstrumentPeriodicPaymentFactorResultofInstrument
Namespace Prefix:	eqix_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Debt Instrument, Periodic Payment, Percent of Original Principal

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	eqix_DebtInstrumentPeriodicPaymentPercentofOriginalPrincipal
Namespace Prefix:	eqix_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line of Credit Facility, Maximum Borrowing Capacity, Increase In Capacity

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	eqix_LineofCreditFacilityMaximumBorrowingCapacityIncreaseInCapacity
Namespace Prefix:	eqix_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Line of Credit Facility, Repay Percentage

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	eqix_LineofCreditFacilityRepayPercentage
Namespace Prefix:	eqix_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

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

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

+ Details

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

- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentInterestRateStatedPercentage
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

Amount of the required periodic payments including both interest and principal payments.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentPeriodicPayment
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of payment greater than the preceding installment payments to be paid at final maturity date of debt.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- 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

Weighted average interest rate of debt outstanding.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

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

- Definition

Amount, after accumulated amortization, of debt issuance costs. Includes, but is not limited to, legal, accounting, underwriting, printing, and registration costs.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 835
-SubTopic 30
-Section 45
-Paragraph 3
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=64930785&loc=d3e28555-108399

Reference 2: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 210
-SubTopic 10
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.5-02.17)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6877327&loc=d3e13212-122682

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_DeferredFinanceCostsNet
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Definition

The carrying value as of the balance sheet date of the current and noncurrent portions of long-term obligations drawn from a line of credit, which is a bank's commitment to make loans up to a specific amount. Examples of items that might be included in the application of this element may consist of letters of credit, standby letters of credit, and revolving credit arrangements, under which borrowings can be made up to a maximum amount as of any point in time conditional on satisfaction of specified terms before, as of and after the date of drawdowns on the line. Includes short-term obligations that would normally be classified as current liabilities but for which (a) postbalance sheet date issuance of a long term obligation to refinance the short term obligation on a long term basis, or (b) the enterprise has entered into a financing agreement that clearly permits the enterprise to refinance the short-term obligation on a long term basis and the following conditions are met (1) the agreement does not expire within 1 year and is not cancelable by the lender except for violation of an objectively determinable provision, (2) no violation exists at the BS date, and (3) the lender has entered into the financing agreement is expected to be financially capable of honoring the agreement.

+ 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))
-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 944
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.7-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6879938&loc=d3e572229-122910

Reference 3: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 942
-SubTopic 210
-Section S99
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (SX 210.9-03(16))
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=6876686&loc=d3e534808-122878

+ Details

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

- Definition

The fee, expressed as a percentage of the line of credit facility, for the line of credit facility regardless of whether the facility has been used.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_LineOfCreditFacilityCommitmentFeePercentage
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	num:percentItemType
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

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

- Definition

The cash inflow during the period from additional borrowings in aggregate debt. Includes proceeds from short-term and long-term debt.

+ References

No definition available.

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_ProceedsFromIssuanceOfDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The cash outflow for debt initially having maturity due after one year or beyond the normal operating cycle, if longer.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 230
-SubTopic 10
-Section 45
-Paragraph 15
-Subparagraph (b)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=98514028&loc=d3e3291-108585

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_RepaymentsOfLongTermDebt
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	credit
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

The remaining balance of debt issuance expenses that were capitalized and are being amortized against income over the lives of the respective bond issues. This does not include the amounts capitalized as part of the cost of the utility plant or asset.

+ References

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_UnamortizedDebtIssuanceExpense
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	instant

- Details

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

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=us-gaap_LetterOfCreditMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_RangeAxis=us-gaap_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBORMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=us-gaap_FederalFundsEffectiveSwapRateMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=eqix_LondonInterbankOfferedRateLIBOROneMonthMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=eqix_TermALoanFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=eqix_SeniorCreditFacilityMemberMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=us-gaap_RevolvingCreditFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=eqix_TermALoanFacilityMemberMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=eqix_TermBLoanCommitmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=eqix_USDTermBLoanFacilityMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=eqix_SterlingTermBLoanCommitmentMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_CreditFacilityAxis=eqix_TermB2LoanCommitmentsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_VariableRateAxis=eqix_EuroInterbankOfferedRateEURIBORMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_LongtermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_SeniorNotesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=eqix_TwoPointEightSevenFivePercentEuroSeniorNotesDueTwoThousandTwentySixMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_ShortTermDebtTypeAxis=us-gaap_BridgeLoanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_DebtInstrumentAxis=eqix_JapaneseYenTermLoanMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Debt Facilities - Senior Credit Facility (Detail) SFr in Millions, SEK in Millions																1 Months Ended	9 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 12, 2017 GBP (£)	Aug. 15, 2017	Jan. 06, 2017 EUR (€)	Jan. 06, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 22, 2016 EUR (€)	Sep. 30, 2016 JPY (¥)	Jan. 08, 2016 GBP (£)	Jan. 08, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 08, 2015 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2015 EUR (€)	Apr. 30, 2015 JPY (¥)	Apr. 30, 2015 GBP (£)	Apr. 30, 2015 USD ($)	Apr. 30, 2015 CHF (SFr)	Dec. 17, 2014 USD ($)	Oct. 31, 2016 JPY (¥)	Sep. 30, 2015 JPY (¥)	Dec. 31, 2017 JPY (¥)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2015 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 GBP (£)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 SEK	Dec. 12, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 12, 2017 SEK	Oct. 31, 2016 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2016 USD ($)	Dec. 08, 2015 GBP (£)	Dec. 08, 2015 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2015 USD ($)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Repayment of debt																			$ 2,277,798,000	$ 1,462,888,000	$ 715,270,000
Effective interest rate (percent)																		7.86%				7.86%	7.86%	7.86%
Revolving credit facility borrowings \| Letter of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity																							$ 250,000,000.0
Revolving credit facility borrowings \| Letter of Credit \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Margin rate (percent)																		0.00%	0.00%
Quarterly facility fee (percent)																		0.15%	0.15%
Revolving credit facility borrowings \| Letter of Credit \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Margin rate (percent)																		0.40%	0.40%
Quarterly facility fee (percent)																		0.30%	0.30%
Revolving credit facility borrowings \| LIBOR \| Letter of Credit \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable rate (percent)																		0.85%	0.85%
Revolving credit facility borrowings \| LIBOR \| Letter of Credit \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable rate (percent)																		1.40%	1.40%
Revolving credit facility borrowings \| Federal Funds Rate \| Letter of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable rate (percent)																		0.50%	0.50%
Revolving credit facility borrowings \| One month LIBOR \| Letter of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable rate (percent)																		1.00%	1.00%
Revolving credit facility borrowings \| Term A Loan Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt instrument, term															5 years
Revolving credit facility borrowings \| Term A Loan Facility \| Federal Funds Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable rate (percent)															0.50%
Revolving credit facility borrowings \| Senior Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity															$ 1,500,000,000										$ 3,000,000,000.0
Revolving credit facility borrowings \| Revolving Credit Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity															1,000,000,000										2,000,000,000.0					$ 1,500,000,000
Increase in borrowing capacity									$ 1,000,000,000
Revolving credit facility borrowings \| Revolving Credit Facility \| Letter of Credit
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity															$ 150,000,000
Revolving credit facility borrowings \| Revolving Credit Facility \| Letter of Credit \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Quarterly facility fee (percent)															0.25%
Revolving credit facility borrowings \| Revolving Credit Facility \| Letter of Credit \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Quarterly facility fee (percent)															0.35%
Revolving credit facility borrowings \| Revolving Credit Facility \| LIBOR \| Letter of Credit \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable rate (percent)															1.00%
Revolving credit facility borrowings \| Revolving Credit Facility \| LIBOR \| Letter of Credit \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable rate (percent)															1.40%
Revolving credit facility borrowings \| Term A Loan Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity															$ 500,000,000										1,000,000,000.0
Debt instrument, term	5 years
LIne of credit outstanding	£ 500,000,000.0																					£ 500,000,000	$ 1,017,800,000	SEK 2,800.0	$ 997,100,000	SEK 2,800.0
Principle repay percentage, per year																		5.00%	5.00%
Repayment of debt													$ 490,000,000
Proceeds from issuance of debt										€ 184,900,000	¥ 11,924,000,000	£ 92,600,000	$ 490,000,000	SFr 47.8
Weighted average interest rate during period (percent)																		1.85%				1.85%	1.85%	1.85%
Debt Issuance Costs, Net																							$ 3,200,000
Periodic payment factor (percent)										2.00%	2.00%	2.00%	2.00%	2.00%
Periodic payment factor denominator										0.98	0.98	0.98	0.98	0.98
Revolving credit facility borrowings \| Term A Loan Facility \| Minimum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable rate (percent)	1.00%
Revolving credit facility borrowings \| Term A Loan Facility \| Maximum
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable rate (percent)	1.70%
Revolving credit facility borrowings \| Term B Loan Commitments
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds from issuance of debt							£ 300,000,000	$ 250,000,000
Periodic payment as a percentage of original principal									0.25%
Revolving credit facility borrowings \| USD Term B Loan Facility
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity					€ 1,000,000,000.0																									250,000,000
Debt instrument, term									7 years
Periodic payment as a percentage of original principal		2.00%			2.50%				0.25%
Revolving credit facility borrowings \| USD Term B Loan Facility \| LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable rate (percent)					0.00%				0.75%
Margin rate (percent)									3.25%
Revolving credit facility borrowings \| USD Term B Loan Facility \| Federal Funds Rate
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable rate (percent)									0.50%
Revolving credit facility borrowings \| Sterling Term B Loan Commitment
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity																													£ 300,000,000	$ 442,000,000
Debt instrument, term									7 years
Periodic payment as a percentage of original principal									0.50%
Revolving credit facility borrowings \| Sterling Term B Loan Commitment \| LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Margin rate (percent)					3.00%				3.75%
Minimum variable rate (percent)		0.00%			0.75%
Revolving credit facility borrowings \| Term B-2 Loan Commitments
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Proceeds from issuance of debt			€ 1,000,000,000.0	$ 1,059,800,000
Periodic payment as a percentage of original principal			0.25%	0.25%
Revolving credit facility borrowings \| Term B-2 Loan Commitments \| LIBOR
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable rate (percent)					0.00%
Margin rate (percent)					2.50%
Minimum variable rate (percent)									0.75%
Revolving credit facility borrowings \| Term B-2 Loan Commitments \| Euro Interbank Offered Rate (EURIBOR)
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Variable rate (percent)		2.50%	3.25%	3.25%
Senior Notes
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Unamortized discount																				$ 39,230,000			78,151,000
Senior Notes \| 2.875% Euro Senior Notes due 2026
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Debt Issuance Costs, Net																							$ 15,900,000
Effective interest rate (percent)																		3.04%				3.04%	3.04%	3.04%
Unamortized discount																							$ 15,700,000
Interest rate (percent)																		2.875%				2.875%	2.875%	2.875%
Bridge Loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity																	¥ 47,500,000,000														$ 395,200,000
Variable rate (percent)																1.75%	0.40%
Bridge Loan \| Japanese Yen term loan
Debt Instrument [Line Items]
Maximum borrowing capacity						¥ 47,500,000,000																						$ 468,400,000
Debt instrument, term						5 years
LIne of credit outstanding																¥ 47,500,000,000		¥ 45,000,000,000					$ 399,600,000				$ 453,200,000
Quarterly installments \| ¥																		625,000,000
Balloon payment \| ¥						¥ 35,625,000,000
Unamortized discount																		¥ 843,600,000					$ 7,500,000