Earnings Per Share - Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2021	Mar. 31, 2020
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income	$ 156,074	$ 118,957
Net (income) loss attributable to non-controlling interests	288	(165)
Net income attributable to Equinix	$ 156,362	$ 118,792
Weighted-average shares used to calculate basic EPS (in shares)	89,330	85,551
Effect of dilutive securities:
Employee equity awards (in shares)	512	593
Weighted-average shares used to calculate diluted EPS (in shares)	89,842	86,144
Basic EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 1.75	$ 1.39
Diluted EPS (in dollars per share)	$ 1.74	$ 1.38