Earnings Per Share - Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income	$ 118,957	$ 117,747
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests	(165)	331
Net income attributable to Equinix	$ 118,792	$ 118,078
Weighted-average shares used to calculate basic EPS (in shares)	85,551	81,814
Effect of dilutive securities:
Employee equity awards (in shares)	593	276
Weighted-average shares used to calculate diluted EPS (in shares)	86,144	82,090
Basic EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 1.39	$ 1.44
Diluted EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 1.38	$ 1.44