Condensed Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 1,519,767	$ 1,396,810	$ 4,434,430	$ 4,145,005
Costs and operating expenses:
Cost of revenues	767,979	704,339	2,243,605	2,084,548
Sales and marketing	172,727	161,574	531,301	490,490
General and administrative	279,350	241,812	797,837	689,514
Transaction costs	5,840	2,991	30,987	8,236
Impairment charges	7,306	1,189	7,306	16,023
Gain on asset sales	(1,785)	(463)	(928)	(463)
Total costs and operating expenses	1,231,417	1,111,442	3,610,108	3,288,348
Income from operations	288,350	285,368	824,322	856,657
Interest income	1,452	8,201	7,410	20,165
Interest expense	(99,736)	(118,674)	(315,554)	(362,067)
Other income	162	3,428	9,610	15,442
Gain (loss) on debt extinguishment	(93,494)	315	(101,803)	(67)
Income before income taxes	96,734	178,638	423,985	530,130
Income tax expense	(29,903)	(57,827)	(104,847)	(147,720)
Net income	66,831	120,811	319,138	382,410
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests	(144)	39	(355)	45
Net income attributable to Equinix	$ 66,687	$ 120,850	$ 318,783	$ 382,455
Earnings per share ("EPS") attributable to Equinix:
Basic EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 0.75	$ 1.42	$ 3.65	$ 4.57
Weighted-average shares for basic EPS (in shares)	88,806	85,012	87,226	83,753
Diluted EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 0.74	$ 1.41	$ 3.63	$ 4.54
Weighted-average shares for diluted EPS (in shares)	89,519	85,571	87,925	84,223