Stockholders' Equity - Rollforward (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended		3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	May 31, 2020	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (in shares)					(85,308,386)				(85,308,386)
Beginning balance			$ 10,388,258	$ 8,669,294	$ 8,840,382	$ 8,749,229	$ 8,424,788	$ 7,219,279	$ 8,840,382	$ 7,219,279
Net income			66,831	133,350	118,957	120,811	143,852	117,747	$ 319,138	382,410
Other comprehensive loss			38,520	66,380	(272,067)	(81,821)	(16,092)	3,344
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards			31,728		30,390	24,425		27,593
Issuance of common stock (in shares)	2,587,500	2,985,575
Issuance of common stock	$ 1,683,100	$ 1,213,400
Dividend distribution on common stock			(236,538)	(235,334)	(227,387)	(209,226)	(207,949)	(198,933)
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards			(194)	(44)	(294)	(218)	(21)	(103)
Accrued dividends on unvested equity awards			(3,764)	(4,136)	(3,268)	(2,993)	(2,972)	(2,395)
Stock-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures			$ 74,648	75,642	81,690	61,403	59,502	50,795
Ending balance (in shares)			(89,101,716)						(89,101,716)
Ending balance		8,424,788	$ 10,555,966	$ 10,388,258	$ 8,669,294	$ 8,761,031	$ 8,749,229	$ 8,424,788	$ 10,555,966	8,761,031
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid			$ 2.66	$ 2.66	$ 2.66	$ 2.46	$ 2.46	$ 2.46
Equinix Stockholders' Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			$ 10,388,280	$ 8,669,364	$ 8,840,606	$ 8,749,242	$ 8,425,112	$ 7,219,279	8,840,606	7,219,279
Net income			66,687	133,304	118,792	120,850	143,527	118,078
Other comprehensive loss			38,490	66,378	(272,056)	(81,793)	(16,078)	3,337
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards			31,728		30,390	24,425		27,593
Dividend distribution on common stock			(236,538)	(235,334)	(227,387)	(209,226)	(207,949)	(198,933)
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards			(194)	(44)	(294)	(218)	(21)	(103)
Accrued dividends on unvested equity awards			(3,764)	(4,136)	(3,268)	(2,993)	(2,972)	(2,395)
Stock-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures			74,648	75,642	81,690	61,403	59,502	50,795
Ending balance		$ 8,425,112	$ 10,555,814	$ 10,388,280	$ 8,669,364	$ 8,761,111	$ 8,749,242	$ 8,425,112	$ 10,555,814	$ 8,761,111
Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (in shares)			(88,890,679)	(86,269,033)	(85,700,953)	(85,213,952)	(84,465,156)	(81,119,117)	(85,700,953)	(81,119,117)
Beginning balance			$ 89	$ 86	$ 86	$ 85	$ 84	$ 81	$ 86	$ 81
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards (in shares)			287,635	34,146	405,550	276,497	26,435	360,464
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards						$ 1
Ending balance (in shares)		(84,465,156)	(89,431,296)	(88,890,679)	(86,269,033)	(85,671,643)	(85,213,952)	(84,465,156)	(89,431,296)	(85,671,643)
Ending balance		$ 84	$ 89	$ 89	$ 86	$ 86	$ 85	$ 84	$ 89	$ 86
Treasury Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (in shares)			(341,285)	(341,973)	(392,567)	(394,794)	(395,153)	(396,859)	(392,567)	(396,859)
Beginning balance			$ (127,042)	$ (127,298)	$ (144,256)	$ (144,725)	$ (144,801)	$ (145,161)	$ (144,256)	$ (145,161)
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards (in shares)			11,705	688	50,594	2,010	359	1,706
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards			$ 4,356	$ 256	$ 16,958	$ 424	$ 76	$ 360
Ending balance (in shares)		(395,153)	(329,580)	(341,285)	(341,973)	(392,784)	(394,794)	(395,153)	(329,580)	(392,784)
Ending balance		$ (144,801)	$ (122,686)	$ (127,042)	$ (127,298)	$ (144,301)	$ (144,725)	$ (144,801)	$ (122,686)	$ (144,301)
Additional Paid-in Capital
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			14,651,944	12,893,455	12,696,433	12,450,614	12,043,056	10,751,313	12,696,433	10,751,313
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards			27,372	(256)	13,432	24,000	(76)	27,233
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards			(81)	0	109	12	12	284
Stock-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures			74,648	75,642	81,690	61,403	59,502	50,795
Ending balance		12,043,056	14,950,522	14,651,944	12,893,455	12,635,450	12,450,614	12,043,056	14,950,522	12,635,450
Accumulated Dividends
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			(4,639,041)	(4,399,527)	(4,168,469)	(3,743,869)	(3,532,915)	(3,331,200)	(4,168,469)	(3,331,200)
Dividend distribution on common stock			(236,538)	(235,334)	(227,387)	(209,226)	(207,949)	(198,933)
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards			(275)	(44)	(403)	(230)	(33)	(387)
Accrued dividends on unvested equity awards			(3,764)	(4,136)	(3,268)	(2,993)	(2,972)	(2,395)
Ending balance		(3,532,915)	(4,879,618)	(4,639,041)	(4,399,527)	(3,956,318)	(3,743,869)	(3,532,915)	(4,879,618)	(3,956,318)
AOCI (Loss)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			(1,140,291)	(1,206,669)	(934,613)	(958,443)	(942,365)	(945,702)	(934,613)	(945,702)
Other comprehensive loss			38,490	66,378	(272,056)	(81,793)	(16,078)	3,337	(167,188)
Ending balance		(942,365)	(1,101,801)	(1,140,291)	(1,206,669)	(1,040,236)	(958,443)	(942,365)	(1,101,801)	(1,040,236)
Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			1,642,621	1,509,317	1,391,425	1,145,580	1,002,053	889,948	1,391,425	889,948
Net income			66,687	133,304	118,792	120,850	143,527	118,078
Ending balance		1,002,053	1,709,308	1,642,621	1,509,317	1,266,430	1,145,580	1,002,053	1,709,308	1,266,430
Noncontrolling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			(22)	(70)	(224)	(13)	(324)	0	(224)	0
Net income			144	46	165	(39)	325	(331)
Other comprehensive loss			30	2	(11)	(28)	(14)	7
Ending balance		$ (324)	$ 152	(22)	(70)	$ (80)	(13)	(324)	152	(80)
Cumulative adjustment due to adoption of ASU
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance					(900)			(5,973)	(900)	(5,973)
Cumulative adjustment due to adoption of ASU | Equinix Stockholders' Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance					(900)			(5,973)	(900)	(5,973)
Cumulative adjustment due to adoption of ASU | Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance					(900)			(5,973)	$ (900)	$ (5,973)
Public Offering
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock				1,683,106				1,213,434
Public Offering | Equinix Stockholders' Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock				$ 1,683,106				$ 1,213,434
Public Offering | Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock (in shares)				2,587,500				2,985,575
Issuance of common stock				$ 3				$ 3
Public Offering | Additional Paid-in Capital
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock				$ 1,683,103				$ 1,213,431
ATM Program
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock (in shares)			252,982			181,194			415,512	903,555
Issuance of common stock			$ 196,477		101,791	$ 99,400	348,121		$ 298,300	$ 447,500
ATM Program | Equinix Stockholders' Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock			$ 196,477		$ 101,791	$ 99,421	$ 348,121
ATM Program | Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock (in shares)			252,982		162,530	181,194	722,361
Issuance of common stock							$ 1
ATM Program | Additional Paid-in Capital
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock			$ 196,477		$ 101,791	$ 99,421	$ 348,120