Stockholders' Equity - Rollforward (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2023 USD ($) plan shares	Mar. 31, 2022 USD ($) shares
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (in shares) | shares	92,620,703
Beginning balance	$ 11,505,832	$ 10,881,764
Treasury stock beginning balance (in shares) | shares	(193,273)
Net income	$ 258,730	147,693
Other comprehensive income (loss)	104,258	32,840
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards	44,544	43,876
Dividend distribution on common stock	(318,736)	(282,031)
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards	(483)	(497)
Accrued dividends on unvested equity awards	(2,406)	(2,045)
Stock-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures	$ 136,345	121,210
Ending balance (in shares) | shares	93,514,718
Ending balance	$ 12,028,859	10,942,810
Treasury stock ending balance (in shares) | shares	(177,207)
Number of defined benefit pension plans | plan	2
ATM Program
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock	$ 300,775
Equinix Stockholders' Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	11,505,966	10,882,082
Net income	258,786	147,453
Other comprehensive income (loss)	104,258	32,837
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards	44,543	43,876
Dividend distribution on common stock	(318,736)	(282,031)
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards	(483)	(497)
Accrued dividends on unvested equity awards	(2,406)	(2,045)
Stock-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures	136,345	121,210
Ending balance	12,029,048	$ 10,942,885
Equinix Stockholders' Equity | ATM Program
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock	$ 300,775
Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (in shares) | shares	92,813,976	90,872,826
Beginning balance	$ 93	$ 91
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards (in shares) | shares	419,490	430,973
Ending balance (in shares) | shares	93,691,925	91,303,799
Ending balance	$ 94	$ 91
Common Stock | ATM Program
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock	$ 1
Issuance of common stock (in shares) | shares	458,459
Treasury Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ (71,966)	$ (112,208)
Treasury stock beginning balance (in shares) | shares	(193,273)	(301,420)
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards (in shares) | shares	16,066	11,445
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards	$ 5,978	$ 4,259
Ending balance	$ (65,988)	$ (107,949)
Treasury stock ending balance (in shares) | shares	(177,207)	(289,975)
Additional Paid-in Capital
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 17,320,017	$ 15,984,597
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards	38,565	39,617
Stock-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures	136,345	121,210
Ending balance	17,795,701	16,145,424
Additional Paid-in Capital | ATM Program
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock	300,774
Accumulated Dividends
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(7,317,570)	(6,165,140)
Dividend distribution on common stock	(318,736)	(282,031)
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards	(483)	(497)
Accrued dividends on unvested equity awards	(2,406)	(2,045)
Ending balance	(7,639,195)	(6,449,713)
AOCI (Loss)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(1,389,446)	(1,085,751)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	104,258	32,837
Ending balance	(1,285,188)	(1,052,914)
Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	2,964,838	2,260,493
Net income	258,786	147,453
Ending balance	3,223,624	2,407,946
Non-controlling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(134)	(318)
Net income	(56)	240
Other comprehensive income (loss)	0	3
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards	1
Ending balance	$ (189)	$ (75)