Earnings Per Share - Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income	$ 120,811	$ 143,852	$ 117,747	$ 124,825			$ 382,410	$ 255,337
Net loss attributable to non-controlling interests	39			0			45	0
Net income attributable to Equinix	$ 120,850			$ 124,825	$ 67,618	$ 62,894	$ 382,455	$ 255,337
Weighted-average shares used to calculate basic EPS (in shares)	85,012			79,872			83,753	79,533
Effect of dilutive securities:
Employee equity awards (in shares)	559			411			470	423
Weighted-average shares used to calculate diluted EPS (in shares)	85,571			80,283			84,223	79,956
Basic EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 1.42			$ 1.56			$ 4.57	$ 3.21
Diluted EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 1.41			$ 1.55			$ 4.54	$ 3.19