Stockholders' Equity - Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 8,840,382	$ 7,219,279
Net Change	(272,067)	3,344
Ending balance	8,669,294	8,424,788
Accumulated other comprehensive loss attributable to Equinix
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(934,613)	(945,702)
Net Change	(272,056)	3,337
Ending balance	(1,206,669)	$ (942,365)
Foreign currency translation adjustment (“CTA”) loss
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(1,056,918)
Net Change	(413,781)
Ending balance	(1,470,699)
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedges
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	15,638
Net Change	(3,256)
Ending balance	12,382
Net investment hedge CTA gain (loss)
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	107,619
Net Change	144,946
Ending balance	252,565
Net actuarial gain (loss) on defined benefit plans
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(952)
Net Change	(35)
Ending balance	$ (917)