Earnings Per Share - Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income	$ 133,350	$ 118,957	$ 143,852	$ 117,747	$ 252,307	$ 261,599
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests	(46)		(325)		(211)	6
Net income attributable to Equinix	$ 133,304		$ 143,527		$ 252,096	$ 261,605
Weighted-average shares used to calculate basic EPS (in shares)	87,303		84,399		86,427	83,114
Effect of dilutive securities:
Employee equity awards (in shares)	598		368		638	357
Weighted-average shares used to calculate diluted EPS (in shares)	87,901		84,767		87,065	83,471
Basic EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 1.53		$ 1.70		$ 2.92	$ 3.15
Diluted EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 1.52		$ 1.69		$ 2.90	$ 3.13