Earnings Per Share - Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Mar. 31, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income	$ 117,747,000	$ 62,894,000
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests	331,000	0
Net income attributable to Equinix	$ 118,078,000	$ 62,894,000
Weighted-average shares used to calculate basic EPS (in shares)	81,814	79,241
Effect of dilutive securities:
Employee equity awards (in shares)	276	408
Weighted-average shares used to calculate diluted EPS (in shares)	82,090	79,649
Basic EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 1.44	$ 0.79
Diluted EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 1.44	$ 0.79