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Stockholders' Equity - Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2018
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		$ 7,140,551	$ 7,219,279	$ 6,849,790
Foreign currency translation adjustment (CTA) loss	$ 25,127	(421,233)	(56,592)	(275,382)
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges	(3,355)		4,869
Net investment hedge CTA gain	(37,857)	226,115	38,993	153,480
Net actuarial loss on defined benefit plans	7	(13)	18	(21)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss attributable to Equinix	127,760	(92,207)	248,851	39,831
Ending balance	8,749,242	6,924,527	8,749,242	6,924,527
Foreign currency translation adjustment (“CTA”) loss [Member]
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			(998,603)
Foreign currency translation adjustment (CTA) loss			(56,585)
Ending balance	(1,055,188)		(1,055,188)
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedges [Member]
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			19,480
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedges [Member]
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges			4,869
Ending balance	24,349		24,349
Net investment hedge CTA gain (loss) [Member]
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			34,325
Net investment hedge CTA gain			38,993
Ending balance	73,318		73,318
Net actuarial gain (loss) on defined benefit plans [Member]
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			(904)
Net actuarial loss on defined benefit plans			18
Ending balance	(922)		(922)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss attributable to Equinix [Member]
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		(718,169)	(945,702)	(785,189)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss attributable to Equinix			(12,741)
Ending balance	$ (958,443)	$ (877,994)	$ (958,443)	$ (877,994)