Stockholders' Equity - Rollforward (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	1 Months Ended	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	May 31, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Mar. 31, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (in shares)			89,134,252			89,134,252
Beginning balance		$ 10,576,675	$ 10,634,118	$ 8,669,294	$ 8,840,382	$ 10,634,118	$ 8,840,382
Net income (loss)		68,487	156,074	133,350	118,957	224,561	252,307
Other comprehensive income (loss)		67,745	(95,481)	66,380	(272,067)	$ (27,736)	(205,687)
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards			40,034	0	30,390
Issuance of common stock (in shares)	2,587,500
Issuance of common stock	$ 1,700,000
Dividend distribution on common stock		(257,199)	(256,321)	(235,334)	(227,387)
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards		(55)	(437)	(44)	(294)
Accrued dividends on unvested equity awards		(4,016)	(3,661)	(4,136)	(3,268)
Stock-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures		$ 95,236	102,349	75,642	81,690
Ending balance (in shares)		89,750,177				89,750,177
Ending balance		$ 10,646,472	10,576,675	10,388,258	8,669,294	$ 10,646,472	10,388,258
Cumulative adjustment due to adoption of ASU
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance					(900)		(900)
Equinix Stockholders' Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		10,576,834	10,633,988	8,669,364	8,840,606	10,633,988	8,840,606
Net income (loss)		68,339	156,362	133,304	118,792
Other comprehensive income (loss)		67,734	(95,480)	66,378	(272,056)
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards			40,034		30,390
Dividend distribution on common stock		(257,199)	(256,321)	(235,334)	(227,387)
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards		(55)	(437)	(44)	(294)
Accrued dividends on unvested equity awards		(4,016)	(3,661)	(4,136)	(3,268)
Stock-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures		95,236	102,349	75,642	81,690
Ending balance		$ 10,646,472	$ 10,576,834	$ 10,388,280	8,669,364	$ 10,646,472	10,388,280
Equinix Stockholders' Equity | Cumulative adjustment due to adoption of ASU
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance					$ (900)		$ (900)
Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (in shares)		89,890,922	89,462,304	86,269,033	85,700,953	89,462,304	85,700,953
Beginning balance		$ 90	$ 89	$ 86	$ 86	$ 89	$ 86
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards (in shares)		36,674	428,618	34,146	405,550
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards			$ 1
Ending balance (in shares)		90,065,200	89,890,922	88,890,679	86,269,033	90,065,200	88,890,679
Ending balance		$ 90	$ 90	$ 89	$ 86	$ 90	$ 89
Treasury Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (in shares)		316,412	328,052	341,973	392,567	328,052	392,567
Beginning balance		$ (117,786)	$ (122,118)	$ (127,298)	$ (144,256)	$ (122,118)	$ (144,256)
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards (in shares)		1,389	11,640	688	50,594
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards		$ 516	$ 4,332	$ 256	$ 16,958
Ending balance (in shares)		315,023	316,412	341,285	341,973	315,023	341,285
Ending balance		$ (117,270)	$ (117,786)	$ (127,042)	$ (127,298)	$ (117,270)	$ (127,042)
Additional Paid-in Capital
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		15,166,407	15,028,357	12,893,455	12,696,433	15,028,357	12,696,433
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards		(516)	35,701	(256)	13,432
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards					109
Stock-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures		95,236	102,349	75,642	81,690
Ending balance		15,360,726	15,166,407	14,651,944	12,893,455	15,360,726	14,651,944
Accumulated Dividends
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		(5,379,693)	(5,119,274)	(4,399,527)	(4,168,469)	(5,119,274)	(4,168,469)
Dividend distribution on common stock		(257,199)	(256,321)	(235,334)	(227,387)
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards		(55)	(437)	(44)	(403)
Accrued dividends on unvested equity awards		(4,016)	(3,661)	(4,136)	(3,268)
Ending balance		(5,640,963)	(5,379,693)	(4,639,041)	(4,399,527)	(5,640,963)	(4,639,041)
AOCI (Loss)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		(1,008,848)	(913,368)	(1,206,669)	(934,613)	(913,368)	(934,613)
Other comprehensive income (loss)		67,734	(95,480)	66,378	(272,056)	(27,746)
Ending balance		(941,114)	(1,008,848)	(1,140,291)	(1,206,669)	(941,114)	(1,140,291)
Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		1,916,664	1,760,302	1,509,317	1,391,425	1,760,302	1,391,425
Net income (loss)		68,339	156,362	133,304	118,792
Ending balance		1,985,003	1,916,664	1,642,621	1,509,317	1,985,003	1,642,621
Retained Earnings | Cumulative adjustment due to adoption of ASU
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance					(900)		(900)
Noncontrolling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance		(159)	130	(70)	(224)	130	(224)
Net income (loss)		148	(288)	46	165
Other comprehensive income (loss)		11	(1)	2	(11)
Ending balance		0	$ (159)	(22)	(70)	$ 0	$ (22)
ATM Program
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock		99,599			101,791
ATM Program | Equinix Stockholders' Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock		$ 99,599			$ 101,791
ATM Program | Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock (in shares)		137,604			162,530
Issuance of common stock		$ 0
ATM Program | Additional Paid-in Capital
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock		$ 99,599			$ 101,791
Public Offering
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock				1,683,106
Public Offering | Equinix Stockholders' Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock				$ 1,683,106
Public Offering | Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock (in shares)				2,587,500
Issuance of common stock				$ 3
Public Offering | Additional Paid-in Capital
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock				$ 1,683,103