Earnings Per Share - Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income	$ 143,852	$ 117,747	$ 67,618		$ 261,599	$ 130,512
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests	(325)		0		6	0
Net income attributable to Equinix	$ 143,527		$ 67,618	$ 62,894	$ 261,605	$ 130,512
Weighted-average shares used to calculate basic EPS (in shares)	84,399		79,479		83,114	79,361
Effect of dilutive securities:
Employee equity awards (in shares)	368		273		357	385
Weighted-average shares used to calculate diluted EPS (in shares)	84,767		79,752		83,471	79,746
Basic EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 1.70		$ 0.85		$ 3.15	$ 1.64
Diluted EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 1.69		$ 0.85		$ 3.13	$ 1.64