Stockholders' Equity - Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Detail) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2019	Mar. 31, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 10,388,258	$ 8,669,294	$ 8,840,382	$ 8,749,229	$ 8,424,788	$ 7,219,279	$ 8,840,382
Net Change	38,520	66,380	(272,067)	(81,821)	(16,092)	3,344
Ending balance	10,555,966	10,388,258	8,669,294	8,761,031	8,749,229	8,424,788	10,555,966
Accumulated other comprehensive loss attributable to Equinix
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(1,140,291)	(1,206,669)	(934,613)	(958,443)	(942,365)	(945,702)	(934,613)
Net Change	38,490	66,378	(272,056)	(81,793)	(16,078)	3,337	(167,188)
Ending balance	(1,101,801)	$ (1,140,291)	(1,206,669)	$ (1,040,236)	$ (958,443)	$ (942,365)	(1,101,801)
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							66,914
Ending balance	(990,004)						(990,004)
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							(54,966)
Ending balance	(39,328)						(39,328)
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							(179,213)
Ending balance	(71,594)						(71,594)
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							77
Ending balance	$ (875)						$ (875)