Stockholders' Equity - Rollforward (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Jun. 30, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 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		$ 8,749,229	$ 8,424,788	$ 7,219,279				$ 7,219,279
Beginning balance				7,219,279	$ 6,924,527	$ 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)		120,811	143,852	117,747	124,825			382,410	255,337
Net income		120,850			124,825	67,618	62,894	382,455	255,337
Other comprehensive income		(81,821)	(16,092)	3,344	(44,154)	(159,825)	69,144	$ (94,569)	(134,835)
Issuance of common stock for equity offering		24,425	0	27,593	24,243	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		(209,226)	(207,949)	(198,933)	(182,304)	(181,207)	(180,640)
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards		(218)	(21)	(103)	104	60	1,265
Accrued dividends on unvested equity awards		(2,993)	(2,972)	(2,395)	(2,680)	(2,755)	(2,216)
Stock-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures		$ 61,403	59,502	50,795	49,940	51,870	44,691
Ending balance (in shares)		85,278,859						85,278,859
Ending balance	$ 8,424,788	$ 8,761,031	8,749,229	$ 8,424,788				$ 8,761,031
Ending balance		8,761,111			7,160,173	6,924,527	$ 7,140,551	$ 8,761,111	$ 7,160,173
ATM Program [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock		$ 99,421	$ 348,121		$ 265,672	$ 8,202
Common Stock [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (in shares)		85,213,952	84,465,156	81,119,117	79,907,084	79,856,916	79,440,404	81,119,117	79,440,404
Beginning balance		$ 85	$ 84	$ 81				$ 81
Beginning balance					$ 80	$ 80	$ 79		$ 79
Issuance of common stock for equity offering (in shares)		276,497	26,435	360,464	268,086	31,068	416,512
Issuance of common stock for equity offering		$ 1					$ 1
Issuance of common stock (in shares)				2,985,575
Issuance of common stock				$ 3
Ending balance (in shares)	84,465,156	85,671,643	85,213,952	84,465,156	80,787,592	79,907,084	79,856,916	85,671,643	80,787,592
Ending balance	$ 84	$ 86	$ 85	$ 84				$ 86
Ending balance					$ 81	$ 80	$ 80		$ 81
Common Stock [Member] | ATM Program [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock (in shares)		181,194	722,361		612,422	19,100
Issuance of common stock			$ 1		$ 1
Treasury Stock [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (in shares)		(394,794)	(395,153)	(396,859)	(399,088)	(399,385)	(402,342)	(396,859)	(402,342)
Beginning balance		$ (144,725)	$ (144,801)	$ (145,161)				$ (145,161)
Beginning balance					$ (145,632)	$ (145,695)	$ (146,320)		$ (146,320)
Issuance of common stock for equity offering (in shares)		2,010	359	1,706	1,968	297	2,957
Issuance of common stock for equity offering		$ 424	$ 76	$ 360	$ 416	$ 63	$ 625
Ending balance (in shares)	(395,153)	(392,784)	(394,794)	(395,153)	(397,120)	(399,088)	(399,385)	(392,784)	(397,120)
Ending balance	$ (144,801)	$ (144,301)	$ (144,725)	$ (144,801)				$ (144,301)
Ending balance					$ (145,216)	$ (145,632)	$ (145,695)		$ (145,216)
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		12,450,614	12,043,056	10,751,313				10,751,313
Beginning balance					10,253,155	10,193,030	10,121,323		10,121,323
Issuance of common stock for equity offering		24,000	(76)	27,233	23,827	(50)	25,221
Issuance of common stock				1,213,431
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards		12	12	284	367	103	1,795
Stock-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures		61,403	59,502	50,795	49,940	51,870	44,691
Ending balance	12,043,056	12,635,450	12,450,614	12,043,056				12,635,450
Ending balance					10,592,960	10,253,155	10,193,030		10,592,960
Additional Paid-in Capital [Member] | ATM Program [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock		99,421	348,120		265,671	8,202
Accumulated Dividends [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		(3,743,869)	(3,532,915)	(3,331,200)				(3,331,200)
Beginning balance					(2,960,183)	(2,776,178)	(2,592,792)		(2,592,792)
Dividend distribution on common stock		(209,226)	(207,949)	(198,933)	(182,304)	(181,207)	(180,640)
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards		(230)	(33)	(387)	(263)	(43)	(530)
Accrued dividends on unvested equity awards		(2,993)	(2,972)	(2,395)	(2,680)	(2,755)	(2,216)
Ending balance	(3,532,915)	(3,956,318)	(3,743,869)	(3,532,915)				(3,956,318)
Ending balance					(3,145,430)	(2,960,183)	(2,776,178)		(3,145,430)
AOCI (Loss) [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		(958,443)	(942,365)	(945,702)				(945,702)
Beginning balance				(945,702)	(877,994)	(718,169)	(785,189)	(945,702)	(785,189)
Adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard update											(2,124)
Other comprehensive income		(81,793)	(16,078)	3,337	(44,154)	(159,825)	69,144
Ending balance	(942,365)	(1,040,236)	(958,443)	(942,365)				(1,040,236)
Ending balance		(1,040,236)			(922,148)	(877,994)	(718,169)	(1,040,236)	(922,148)
Retained Earnings [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		1,145,580	1,002,053	889,948				889,948
Beginning balance					655,101	587,483	252,689		252,689
Adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard update										(5,973)	$ 271,900
Net income (loss)		120,850	143,527	118,078
Net income					124,825	67,618	62,894
Ending balance	1,002,053	1,266,430	1,145,580	1,002,053				1,266,430
Ending balance					$ 779,926	$ 655,101	$ 587,483		$ 779,926
Equinix Stockholders' Equity [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		8,749,242	8,425,112	7,219,279				7,219,279
Adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard update										$ (5,973)
Net income (loss)		120,850	143,527	118,078
Other comprehensive income		(81,793)	(16,078)	3,337
Issuance of common stock for equity offering		24,425	0	27,593
Issuance of common stock				1,213,434
Dividend distribution on common stock		(209,226)	(207,949)	(198,933)
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards		(218)	(21)	(103)
Accrued dividends on unvested equity awards		(2,993)	(2,972)	(2,395)
Stock-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures		61,403	59,502	50,795
Ending balance	8,425,112	8,761,111	8,749,242	8,425,112				8,761,111
Equinix Stockholders' Equity [Member] | ATM Program [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock		99,421	348,121
Noncontrolling Interests [Member]
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		(13)	(324)	0				0
Net income (loss)		(39)	325	(331)
Other comprehensive income		(28)	(14)	7
Ending balance	$ (324)	$ (80)	$ (13)	$ (324)				$ (80)