Weighted average amortization period of finite-lived intangible assets acquired either individually or as part of a group of assets, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

Reference 1: http://fasb.org/us-gaap/role/ref/legacyRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)(3)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16265-109275

+ Details

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

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

- Definition

Useful life of finite-lived intangible assets, 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_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetUsefulLife
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:durationItemType
Balance Type:	na
Period Type:	duration

- Definition

Amount of increase in assets, excluding financial assets, lacking physical substance with a definite life, from an acquisition.

+ References

Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/disclosureRef
-Publisher FASB
-Name Accounting Standards Codification
-Topic 350
-SubTopic 30
-Section 50
-Paragraph 1
-Subparagraph (a)(1)
-URI http://asc.fasb.org/extlink&oid=66006027&loc=d3e16265-109275

+ Details

Name:	us-gaap_FinitelivedIntangibleAssetsAcquired1
Namespace Prefix:	us-gaap_
Data Type:	xbrli:monetaryItemType
Balance Type:	debit
Period Type:	duration

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_CustomerRelationshipsMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=eqix_MetronodeMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_BusinessAcquisitionAxis=eqix_InfomartDallasMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_LeasesAcquiredInPlaceMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MinimumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	srt_RangeAxis=srt_MaximumMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_TradeNamesMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

- Details

Name:	us-gaap_FiniteLivedIntangibleAssetsByMajorClassAxis=us-gaap_OffMarketFavorableLeaseMember
Namespace Prefix:
Data Type:	na
Balance Type:
Period Type:

Acquisitions - Intangible Assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Apr. 18, 2018	Apr. 02, 2018
Customer relationships [Member] \| Metronode [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Fair Value	$ 128,229
Estimated Useful Lives (Years)	20 years
Weighted-average Estimated Useful Lives (Years)	20 years
Customer relationships [Member] \| Infomart Dallas [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Fair Value		$ 35,860
Estimated Useful Lives (Years)		20 years
Weighted-average Estimated Useful Lives (Years)		20 years
In-place leases [Member] \| Infomart Dallas [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Fair Value		$ 19,960
Weighted-average Estimated Useful Lives (Years)		6 years 9 months 18 days
In-place leases [Member] \| Infomart Dallas [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated Useful Lives (Years)		3 years 7 months 6 days
In-place leases [Member] \| Infomart Dallas [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated Useful Lives (Years)		7 years 6 months
Trade names [Member] \| Infomart Dallas [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Fair Value		$ 9,552
Estimated Useful Lives (Years)		20 years
Weighted-average Estimated Useful Lives (Years)		20 years
Favorable lease [Member] \| Infomart Dallas [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Fair Value		$ 475
Weighted-average Estimated Useful Lives (Years)		7 years
Favorable lease [Member] \| Infomart Dallas [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated Useful Lives (Years)		3 years 7 months 6 days
Favorable lease [Member] \| Infomart Dallas [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Business Acquisition [Line Items]
Estimated Useful Lives (Years)		7 years 6 months