Consolidated Statements of Operations - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2020	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenues	$ 5,998,545	$ 5,562,140	$ 5,071,654
Costs and operating expenses:
Cost of revenues	3,074,340	2,810,184	2,605,475
Sales and marketing	718,356	651,046	633,702
General and administrative	1,090,981	935,018	826,694
Transaction costs	55,935	24,781	34,413
Impairment charges	7,306	15,790	0
Gain on asset sales	(1,301)	(44,310)	(6,013)
Total costs and operating expenses	4,945,617	4,392,509	4,094,271
Income from operations	1,052,928	1,169,631	977,383
Interest income	8,654	27,697	14,482
Interest expense	(406,466)	(479,684)	(521,494)
Other income	6,913	27,778	14,044
Loss on debt extinguishment	(145,804)	(52,825)	(51,377)
Income before income taxes	516,225	692,597	433,038
Income tax expense	(146,151)	(185,352)	(67,679)
Net income	370,074	507,245	365,359
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests	(297)	205	0
Net income attributable to Equinix	$ 369,777	$ 507,450	$ 365,359
Earnings per share ("EPS") attributable to Equinix:
Basic EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 4.22	$ 6.03	$ 4.58
Weighted-average shares for basic EPS (in shares)	87,700	84,140	79,779
Diluted EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 4.18	$ 5.99	$ 4.56
Weighted-average shares for diluted EPS (in shares)	88,410	84,679	80,197