Stockholders' Equity - Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Detail) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($) country plan	Jun. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2020 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2020 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($) country plan	Sep. 30, 2020 USD ($)
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 10,646,472	$ 10,576,675	$ 10,634,118	$ 10,388,258	$ 8,669,294	$ 8,840,382	$ 10,634,118	$ 8,840,382
Net Change	(100,647)	67,745	(95,481)	38,520	66,380	(272,067)	(128,383)	(167,167)
Ending balance	$ 10,568,573	10,646,472	10,576,675	10,555,966	10,388,258	8,669,294	$ 10,568,573	10,555,966
Number of defined benefit pension plans | plan	2						2
Number of countries with a defined benefit pension plan | country	2						2
Accumulated other comprehensive loss attributable to Equinix
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ (941,114)	(1,008,848)	(913,368)	(1,140,291)	(1,206,669)	(934,613)	$ (913,368)	(934,613)
Net Change	(100,647)	67,734	(95,480)	38,490	66,378	(272,056)	(128,393)
Ending balance	(1,041,761)	$ (941,114)	(1,008,848)	$ (1,101,801)	$ (1,140,291)	$ (1,206,669)	(1,041,761)	$ (1,101,801)
Foreign currency translation adjustment (“CTA”) loss
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			(508,415)				(508,415)
Net Change							(444,701)
Ending balance	(953,116)						(953,116)
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			(67,152)				(67,152)
Net Change							52,048
Ending balance	(15,104)						(15,104)
Net investment hedge CTA gain (loss)
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			(336,934)				(336,934)
Net Change							264,219
Ending balance	(72,715)						(72,715)
Net actuarial gain (loss) on defined benefit plans
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			$ (867)				(867)
Net Change							41
Ending balance	$ (826)						$ (826)