Consolidated Statements of Stockholders’ Equity and Other Comprehensive Income (Loss) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Total	Adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard	Public offering	ATM Program	Equinix Stockholders' Equity	Equinix Stockholders' Equity Adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard	Equinix Stockholders' Equity Public offering	Equinix Stockholders' Equity ATM Program	Common stock	Common stock Public offering	Common stock ATM Program	Treasury stock	Additional Paid-in Capital	Additional Paid-in Capital Public offering	Additional Paid-in Capital ATM Program	Accumulated Dividends	AOCI (Loss)	AOCI (Loss) Adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard	Retained Earnings	Retained Earnings Adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard	Non-controlling Interests
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2017									79,440,404			402,342
Beginning balance at Dec. 31, 2017	$ 6,849,790	$ 269,776			$ 6,849,790	$ 269,776			$ 79			$ (146,320)	$ 10,121,323			$ (2,592,792)	$ (785,189)	$ (2,124)	$ 252,689	$ 271,900	$ 0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	365,359				365,359														365,359
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(158,389)				(158,389)												(158,389)
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards (in shares)									747,779			5,483
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards	50,136				50,136				$ 1			$ 1,159	48,976
Issuance of common stock (in shares)											930,934
Issuance of common stock, net				$ 388,172				$ 388,172			$ 1				$ 388,171
Dividend distributions	(727,448)				(727,448)											(727,448)
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards	1,443				1,443								2,319			(876)
Accrued dividends on unvested equity awards	(10,084)				(10,084)											(10,084)
Stock-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures	189,799				189,799								189,799
Noncontrolling interests	725				725								725
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018									81,119,117			396,859
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2018	$ 7,219,279	(5,973)			7,219,279	(5,973)			$ 81			$ (145,161)	10,751,313			(3,331,200)	(945,702)		889,948	(5,973)	0
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accounting Standards Update [Extensible List]	us-gaap:AccountingStandardsUpdate201613Member
Net income (loss)	$ 507,245				507,450														507,450		(205)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	11,070				11,089												11,089				(19)
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards (in shares)									692,706			4,292
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards	52,017				52,017				$ 1			$ 905	51,111
Issuance of common stock (in shares)										2,985,575	903,555
Issuance of common stock, net			$ 1,213,434	447,542			$ 1,213,434	447,542		$ 3	$ 1			$ 1,213,431	447,541
Dividend distributions	(825,893)				(825,893)											(825,893)
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards	(380)				(380)								308			(688)
Accrued dividends on unvested equity awards	(10,688)				(10,688)											(10,688)
Stock-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures	$ 232,729				232,729								232,729
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2019	85,308,386								85,700,953			392,567
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2019	$ 8,840,382	$ (900)			8,840,606	$ (900)			$ 86			$ (144,256)	12,696,433			(4,168,469)	(934,613)		1,391,425	$ (900)	(224)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Accounting Standards Update [Extensible List]	us-gaap:AccountingStandardsUpdate201613Member
Net income (loss)	$ 370,074				369,777														369,777		297
Other comprehensive income (loss)	21,302				21,245												21,245				57
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards (in shares)									758,339			64,515
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards	62,117				62,117				$ 0			$ 22,138	39,979
Issuance of common stock (in shares)										2,587,500	415,512
Issuance of common stock, net			$ 1,683,106	$ 298,269			$ 1,683,106	$ 298,269		$ 3	$ 0			$ 1,683,103	$ 298,269
Dividend distributions	(936,269)				(936,269)											(936,269)
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards	(581)				(581)								189			(770)
Accrued dividends on unvested equity awards	(13,766)				(13,766)											(13,766)
Stock-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures	$ 310,384				310,384								310,384
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2020	89,134,252								89,462,304			328,052
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2020	$ 10,634,118				$ 10,633,988				$ 89			$ (122,118)	$ 15,028,357			$ (5,119,274)	$ (913,368)		$ 1,760,302		$ 130