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)	Retained Earnings	Retained Earnings Adjustment from adoption of new accounting standard	Non-controlling Interests
Beginning balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2018									81,119,117			(396,859)
Beginning 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]
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 on common stock	(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									85,700,953			(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]
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							$ 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				$ 1,683,103	298,269
Dividend distributions on common stock	(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
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Net income (loss)	499,728				500,191													500,191		(463)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(172,368)				(172,383)												(172,383)			15
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards (in shares)									772,905			26,632
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards	77,629				77,629				$ 1			$ 9,910	67,718
Issuance of common stock (in shares)											637,617
Issuance of common stock, net				$ 497,870				$ 497,870			$ 1				$ 497,869
Dividend distributions on common stock	(1,030,005)				(1,030,005)											(1,030,005)
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards	(839)				(839)											(839)
Accrued dividends on unvested equity awards	(15,022)				(15,022)											(15,022)
Stock-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures	$ 390,653				390,653								390,653
Ending balance (in shares) at Dec. 31, 2021	90,571,406								90,872,826			(301,420)
Ending balance at Dec. 31, 2021	$ 10,881,764				$ 10,882,082				$ 91			$ (112,208)	$ 15,984,597			$ (6,165,140)	$ (1,085,751)	$ 2,260,493		$ (318)