Stockholders' Equity - Rollforward (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2023	Mar. 31, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022	Mar. 31, 2022	Jun. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2022
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (in shares)		92,620,703			92,620,703
Beginning balance	$ 12,028,859	$ 11,505,832	$ 10,942,810	$ 10,881,764	$ 11,505,832	$ 10,881,764
Treasury stock beginning balance (in shares)		(193,273)			(193,273)
Net income	207,013	$ 258,730	216,242	147,693	$ 465,743	363,935
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(3,171)	104,258	(365,877)	32,840	$ 101,087	(333,037)
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards		44,544	14,039	43,876
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards	2,542
Dividend distribution on common stock	(318,914)	(318,736)	(282,168)	(282,031)
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards	(86)	(483)	(57)	(497)
Accrued dividends on unvested equity awards	(5,058)	(2,406)	(4,400)	(2,045)
Stock-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures	$ 112,815	136,345	109,005	121,210
Ending balance (in shares)	93,564,869				93,564,869
Ending balance	$ 12,024,000	$ 12,028,859	$ 10,629,594	$ 10,942,810	$ 12,024,000	10,629,594
Treasury stock ending balance (in shares)	(171,790)				(171,790)
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid	$ 3.41	$ 3.41	$ 3.10	$ 3.10
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	$ 12,029,048	11,505,966	$ 10,942,885	$ 10,882,082	$ 11,505,966	10,882,082
Net income	207,030	258,786	216,322	147,453
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(3,268)	104,258	(365,842)	32,837
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards		44,543	14,039	43,876
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards	2,542
Dividend distribution on common stock	(318,914)	(318,736)	(282,168)	(282,031)
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards	(86)	(483)	(57)	(497)
Accrued dividends on unvested equity awards	(5,058)	(2,406)	(4,400)	(2,045)
Stock-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures	112,815	136,345	109,005	121,210
Ending balance	$ 12,024,109	12,029,048	$ 10,629,784	$ 10,942,885	$ 12,024,109	$ 10,629,784
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)	93,691,925	92,813,976	91,303,799	90,872,826	92,813,976	90,872,826
Beginning balance	$ 94	$ 93	$ 91	$ 91	$ 93	$ 91
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards (in shares)		419,490	36,682	430,973
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock (in shares)	44,734
Ending balance (in shares)	93,736,659	93,691,925	91,340,481	91,303,799	93,736,659	91,340,481
Ending balance	$ 94	$ 94	$ 91	$ 91	$ 94	$ 91
Common Stock | ATM Program
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock (in shares)		458,459
Issuance of common stock		$ 1
Treasury Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ (65,988)	$ (71,966)	$ (107,949)	$ (112,208)	$ (71,966)	$ (112,208)
Treasury stock beginning balance (in shares)	(177,207)	(193,273)	(289,975)	(301,420)	(193,273)	(301,420)
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards (in shares)		16,066	24,609	11,445
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards		$ 5,978	$ 9,157	$ 4,259
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock (in shares)	5,417
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards	$ 2,015
Ending balance	$ (63,973)	$ (65,988)	$ (98,792)	$ (107,949)	$ (63,973)	$ (98,792)
Treasury stock ending balance (in shares)	(171,790)	(177,207)	(265,366)	(289,975)	(171,790)	(265,366)
Additional Paid-in Capital
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 17,795,701	$ 17,320,017	$ 16,145,424	$ 15,984,597	$ 17,320,017	$ 15,984,597
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards		38,565	4,882	39,617
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards	527
Stock-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures	112,815	136,345	109,005	121,210
Ending balance	17,909,043	17,795,701	16,259,311	16,145,424	17,909,043	16,259,311
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	(7,639,195)	(7,317,570)	(6,449,713)	(6,165,140)	(7,317,570)	(6,165,140)
Dividend distribution on common stock	(318,914)	(318,736)	(282,168)	(282,031)
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards	(86)	(483)	(57)	(497)
Accrued dividends on unvested equity awards	(5,058)	(2,406)	(4,400)	(2,045)
Ending balance	(7,963,253)	(7,639,195)	(6,736,338)	(6,449,713)	(7,963,253)	(6,736,338)
AOCI (Loss)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(1,285,188)	(1,389,446)	(1,052,914)	(1,085,751)	(1,389,446)	(1,085,751)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(3,268)	104,258	(365,842)	32,837	100,990
Ending balance	(1,288,456)	(1,285,188)	(1,418,756)	(1,052,914)	(1,288,456)	(1,418,756)
Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	3,223,624	2,964,838	2,407,946	2,260,493	2,964,838	2,260,493
Net income	207,030	258,786	216,322	147,453
Ending balance	3,430,654	3,223,624	2,624,268	2,407,946	3,430,654	2,624,268
Non-controlling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(189)	(134)	(75)	(318)	(134)	(318)
Net income	(17)	(56)	(80)	240
Other comprehensive income (loss)	97	0	(35)	3
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards		1
Ending balance	$ (109)	$ (189)	$ (190)	$ (75)	$ (109)	$ (190)