Stockholders' Equity - Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Detail) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2022 USD ($) plan country	Jun. 30, 2022 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2021 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2021 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2022 USD ($) plan country	Sep. 30, 2021 USD ($)
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 10,629,594	$ 10,942,810	$ 10,881,764	$ 10,646,472	$ 10,576,675	$ 10,634,118	$ 10,881,764	$ 10,634,118
Net Change	(337,189)	(365,877)	32,840	(100,647)	67,745	(95,481)	(670,226)	(128,383)
Ending balance	$ 11,154,093	10,629,594	10,942,810	10,568,573	10,646,472	10,576,675	$ 11,154,093	10,568,573
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	$ (1,418,756)	(1,052,914)	(1,085,751)	(941,114)	(1,008,848)	(913,368)	$ (1,085,751)	(913,368)
Net Change	(337,161)	(365,842)	32,837	(100,647)	67,734	(95,480)	(670,166)
Ending balance	(1,755,917)	$ (1,418,756)	(1,052,914)	$ (1,041,761)	$ (941,114)	$ (1,008,848)	(1,755,917)	$ (1,041,761)
Foreign currency translation adjustment ("CTA") loss
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			(1,068,399)				(1,068,399)
Net Change							(1,566,542)
Ending balance	(2,634,941)						(2,634,941)
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			(6,590)				(6,590)
Net Change							90,774
Ending balance	84,184						84,184
Net investment hedge CTA gain (loss)
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			(9,952)				(9,952)
Net Change							805,661
Ending balance	795,709						795,709
Net actuarial loss on defined benefit plans
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			$ (810)				(810)
Net Change							(59)
Ending balance	$ (869)						$ (869)