Stockholders' Equity - Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 8,669,294	$ 8,840,382	$ 8,424,788	$ 7,219,279	$ 8,840,382
Net Change	66,380	(272,067)	(16,092)	3,344
Ending balance	10,388,258	8,669,294	8,749,229	8,424,788	10,388,258
Accumulated other comprehensive loss attributable to Equinix
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(1,206,669)	(934,613)	(942,365)	(945,702)	(934,613)
Net Change	66,378	(272,056)	(16,078)	3,337	(205,678)
Ending balance	(1,140,291)	(1,206,669)	$ (958,443)	$ (942,365)	(1,140,291)
Foreign currency translation adjustment (“CTA”) loss
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		(1,056,918)			(1,056,918)
Net Change					(232,497)
Ending balance	(1,289,415)				(1,289,415)
Unrealized loss on cash flow hedges
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		15,638			15,638
Net Change					(21,124)
Ending balance	(5,486)				(5,486)
Net investment hedge CTA gain (loss)
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		107,619			107,619
Net Change					47,888
Ending balance	155,507				155,507
Net actuarial gain (loss) on defined benefit plans
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		$ (952)			(952)
Net Change					55
Ending balance	$ (897)				$ (897)