Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Public offering	ATM Program	Equinix Stockholders' Equity	Equinix Stockholders' Equity Public offering	Equinix Stockholders' Equity ATM Program	Common stock	Common stock Public offering	Common stock ATM Program	Treasury stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Additional Paid-in Capital Public offering	Additional Paid-in Capital ATM Program	Accumulated Dividends	AOCI (Loss)	Retained Earnings	Non-controlling Interests
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2016							71,817,430			(408,415)
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2016	$ 4,365,829			$ 4,365,829			$ 72			$ (147,559)	$ 7,413,519			$ (1,969,645)	$ (949,142)	$ 18,584	$ 0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	232,982			232,982												232,982
Other comprehensive income (loss)	163,953			163,953											163,953
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)								6,069,444	763,201
Issuance of common stock, net		$ 2,126,339	$ 355,082		$ 2,126,339	$ 355,082		$ 6				$ 2,126,333	$ 355,082
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards (in shares)							790,329			6,073
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards	41,689			41,689			$ 1			$ 1,239	40,449
Dividend distributions	(612,085)			(612,085)										(612,085)
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards	3,390			3,390							4,280			(890)
Accrued dividends on unvested equity awards	(10,172)			(10,172)										(10,172)
Stock-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures	181,660			181,660							181,660
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017							79,440,404			(402,342)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2017	6,849,790			6,849,790			$ 79			$ (146,320)	10,121,323			(2,592,792)	(785,189)	252,689	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	365,359			365,359												365,359
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(158,389)			(158,389)											(158,389)
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)									930,934
Issuance of common stock, net			388,172			388,172			$ 1				388,171
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards (in shares)							747,779			5,483
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards	50,136			50,136			$ 1			$ 1,159	48,976
Dividend distributions	(727,448)			(727,448)										(727,448)
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards	1,443			1,443							2,319			(876)
Accrued dividends on unvested equity awards	(10,084)			(10,084)										(10,084)
Stock-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures	189,799			189,799							189,799
Noncontrolling interests	$ 725			725							725
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018	80,722,258						81,119,117			(396,859)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 7,219,279			7,219,279			$ 81			$ (145,161)	10,751,313			(3,331,200)	(945,702)	889,948	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	507,245			507,450												507,450	(205)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	11,070			11,089											11,089		(19)
Issuance of common stock, net (in shares)								2,985,575	903,555
Issuance of common stock, net		$ 1,213,434	$ 447,542		$ 1,213,434	$ 447,542		$ 3	$ 1			$ 1,213,431	$ 447,541
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards (in shares)							692,706			4,292
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards	52,017			52,017			$ 1			$ 905	51,111
Dividend distributions	(825,893)			(825,893)										(825,893)
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards	(380)			(380)							308			(688)
Accrued dividends on unvested equity awards	(10,688)			(10,688)										(10,688)
Stock-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures	$ 232,729			232,729							232,729
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019	85,308,386						85,700,953			(392,567)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 8,840,382			$ 8,840,606			$ 86			$ (144,256)	$ 12,696,433			$ (4,168,469)	$ (934,613)	$ 1,391,425	$ (224)