Stockholders' Equity - Rollforward (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jan. 01, 2019	Jan. 01, 2018
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (in shares)			80,722,258			80,722,258
Beginning balance		$ 8,424,788	$ 7,219,279			$ 7,219,279
Beginning balance			7,219,279	$ 7,140,551	$ 6,849,790	7,219,279	$ 6,849,790
Adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard update								$ (5,973)	$ 269,776
Net income (loss)		143,852	117,747	67,618		261,599	130,512
Net income		143,527		67,618	62,894	261,605	130,512
Other comprehensive income		(16,092)	3,344	(159,825)	69,144	$ (12,748)	(90,681)
Issuance of common stock for equity offering		0	27,593	13	25,847
Issuance of common stock (in shares)	2,985,575
Issuance of common stock	$ 1,213,400		1,213,434
Dividend distribution on common stock (in dollars per share)		(207,949)	(198,933)	(181,207)	(180,640)
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards		(21)	(103)	60	1,265
Accrued dividends on unvested equity awards		(2,972)	(2,395)	(2,755)	(2,216)
Stock-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures		$ 59,502	50,795	51,870	44,691
Ending balance (in shares)		84,819,158				84,819,158
Ending balance	$ 8,424,788	$ 8,749,229	$ 8,424,788			$ 8,749,229
Ending balance		8,749,242		6,924,527	$ 7,140,551	$ 8,749,242	$ 6,924,527
ATM Program [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock		$ 348,121		$ 8,202
Common Stock [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (in shares)		84,465,156	81,119,117	79,856,916	79,440,404	81,119,117	79,440,404
Beginning balance		$ 84	$ 81			$ 81
Beginning balance				$ 80	$ 79		$ 79
Issuance of common stock for equity offering (in shares)		26,435	360,464	31,068	416,512
Issuance of common stock for equity offering				$ 0	$ 1
Issuance of common stock (in shares)			2,985,575
Issuance of common stock			$ 3
Ending balance (in shares)	84,465,156	85,213,952	84,465,156	79,907,084	79,856,916	85,213,952	79,907,084
Ending balance	$ 84	$ 85	$ 84			$ 85
Ending balance				$ 80	$ 80		$ 80
Common Stock [Member] | ATM Program [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock (in shares)		722,361		19,100
Issuance of common stock		$ 1		$ 0
Treasury Stock [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (in shares)		(395,153)	(396,859)	(399,385)	(402,342)	(396,859)	(402,342)
Beginning balance		$ (144,801)	$ (145,161)			$ (145,161)
Beginning balance				$ (145,695)	$ (146,320)		$ (146,320)
Issuance of common stock for equity offering (in shares)		359	1,706	297	2,957
Issuance of common stock for equity offering		$ 76	$ 360	$ 63	$ 625
Ending balance (in shares)	(395,153)	(394,794)	(395,153)	(399,088)	(399,385)	(394,794)	(399,088)
Ending balance	$ (144,801)	$ (144,725)	$ (144,801)			$ (144,725)
Ending balance				$ (145,632)	$ (145,695)		$ (145,632)
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		12,043,056	10,751,313			10,751,313
Beginning balance				10,193,030	10,121,323		10,121,323
Issuance of common stock for equity offering		(76)	27,233	(50)	25,221
Issuance of common stock			1,213,431
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards		12	284	103	1,795
Stock-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures		59,502	50,795	51,870	44,691
Ending balance	12,043,056	12,450,614	12,043,056			12,450,614
Ending balance				10,253,155	10,193,030		10,253,155
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] | ATM Program [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock		348,120		8,202
Accumulated Dividends [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		(3,532,915)	(3,331,200)			(3,331,200)
Beginning balance				(2,776,178)	(2,592,792)		(2,592,792)
Dividend distribution on common stock (in dollars per share)		(207,949)	(198,933)	(181,207)	(180,640)
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards		(33)	(387)	(43)	(530)
Accrued dividends on unvested equity awards		(2,972)	(2,395)	(2,755)	(2,216)
Ending balance	(3,532,915)	(3,743,869)	(3,532,915)			(3,743,869)
Ending balance				(2,960,183)	(2,776,178)		(2,960,183)
AOCI (Loss) [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		(942,365)	(945,702)			(945,702)
Beginning balance			(945,702)	(718,169)	(785,189)	(945,702)	(785,189)
Adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard update									(2,124)
Other comprehensive income		(16,078)	3,337	(159,825)	69,144
Ending balance	(942,365)	(958,443)	(942,365)			(958,443)
Ending balance		(958,443)		(877,994)	(718,169)	(958,443)	(877,994)
Retained Earnings [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		1,002,053	889,948			889,948
Beginning balance				587,483	252,689		252,689
Adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard update								(5,973)	$ 271,900
Net income (loss)		143,527	118,078
Net income				67,618	62,894
Ending balance	1,002,053	1,145,580	1,002,053			1,145,580
Ending balance				$ 655,101	$ 587,483		$ 655,101
Equinix Stockholders' Equity [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		8,425,112	7,219,279			7,219,279
Adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard update								$ (5,973)
Net income (loss)		143,527	118,078
Other comprehensive income		(16,078)	3,337
Issuance of common stock for equity offering		0	27,593
Issuance of common stock			1,213,434
Dividend distribution on common stock (in dollars per share)		(207,949)	(198,933)
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards		(21)	(103)
Accrued dividends on unvested equity awards		(2,972)	(2,395)
Stock-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures		59,502	50,795
Ending balance	8,425,112	8,749,242	8,425,112			8,749,242
Equinix Stockholders' Equity [Member] | ATM Program [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock		348,121
Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		(324)	0			0
Net income (loss)		325	(331)
Other comprehensive income		(14)	7
Ending balance	$ (324)	$ (13)	$ (324)			$ (13)