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Stockholders' Equity - Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2018
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		$ 6,924,527	$ 7,219,279	$ 6,849,790
Foreign currency translation adjustment (CTA) loss	$ (284,927)	(77,566)	(341,519)	(352,948)
Unrealized gain on cash flow hedges	14,217		19,086
Net investment hedge CTA gain	188,897	27,214	227,890	180,694
Net actuarial loss on defined benefit plans	(8)	14	(26)	35
Accumulated other comprehensive loss attributable to Equinix	38,990	80,671	287,841	120,502
Ending balance	8,761,111	7,160,173	8,761,111	7,160,173
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			(341,484)
Ending balance	(1,340,087)		(1,340,087)
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			19,086
Ending balance	38,566		38,566
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			227,890
Ending balance	262,215		262,215
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			(26)
Ending balance	(930)		(930)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss attributable to Equinix [Member]
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		(877,994)	(945,702)	(785,189)
Accumulated other comprehensive loss attributable to Equinix			(94,534)
Ending balance	$ (1,040,236)	$ (922,148)	$ (1,040,236)	$ (922,148)