Stockholders' Equity - Rollforward (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023	Jun. 30, 2023	Mar. 31, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2022	Mar. 31, 2022	Sep. 30, 2023	Sep. 30, 2022
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (in shares)			92,620,703				92,620,703
Beginning balance	$ 12,024,000	$ 12,028,859	$ 11,505,832	$ 10,629,594	$ 10,942,810	$ 10,881,764	$ 11,505,832	$ 10,881,764
Treasury stock beginning balance (in shares)			(193,273)				(193,273)
Net income (loss)	275,760	207,013	$ 258,730	211,739	216,242	147,693	$ 741,503	575,674
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(237,736)	(3,171)	104,258	(337,189)	(365,877)	32,840	$ (136,649)	(670,226)
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards	42,419	2,542	44,544	37,667	14,039	43,876
Dividend distribution on common stock	(319,308)	(318,914)	(318,736)	(286,136)	(282,168)	(282,031)
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards	(343)	(86)	(483)	(327)	(57)	(497)
Accrued dividends on unvested equity awards	(4,695)	(5,058)	(2,406)	(4,031)	(4,400)	(2,045)
Stock-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures	$ 106,462	112,815	136,345	106,757	109,005	121,210
Ending balance (in shares)	93,883,296						93,883,296
Ending balance	$ 11,886,559	$ 12,024,000	$ 12,028,859	$ 11,154,093	$ 10,629,594	$ 10,942,810	$ 11,886,559	11,154,093
Treasury stock ending balance (in shares)	(153,586)						(153,586)
Common Stock, Dividends, Per Share, Cash Paid	$ 3.41	$ 3.41	$ 3.41	$ 3.10	$ 3.10	$ 3.10
ATM Program
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock under ATM Program			$ 300,775	$ 796,019
Equinix Stockholders' Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 12,024,109	$ 12,029,048	11,505,966	10,629,784	$ 10,942,885	$ 10,882,082	$ 11,505,966	10,882,082
Net income (loss)	275,794	207,030	258,786	211,807	216,322	147,453
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(237,554)	(3,268)	104,258	(337,161)	(365,842)	32,837
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards	42,419	2,542	44,543	37,667	14,039	43,876
Dividend distribution on common stock	(319,308)	(318,914)	(318,736)	(286,136)	(282,168)	(282,031)
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards	(343)	(86)	(483)	(327)	(57)	(497)
Accrued dividends on unvested equity awards	(4,695)	(5,058)	(2,406)	(4,031)	(4,400)	(2,045)
Stock-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures	106,462	112,815	136,345	106,757	109,005	121,210
Ending balance	$ 11,886,884	$ 12,024,109	12,029,048	11,154,379	$ 10,629,784	$ 10,942,885	$ 11,886,884	$ 11,154,379
Equinix Stockholders' Equity | ATM Program
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock under ATM Program			$ 300,775	$ 796,019
Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (in shares)	93,736,659	93,691,925	92,813,976	91,340,481	91,303,799	90,872,826	92,813,976	90,872,826
Beginning balance	$ 94	$ 94	$ 93	$ 91	$ 91	$ 91	$ 93	$ 91
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards (in shares)	300,223	44,734	419,490	285,176	36,682	430,973
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards				$ 1
Issuance of common stock under ATM Program				$ 1
Ending balance (in shares)	94,036,882	93,736,659	93,691,925	92,786,363	91,340,481	91,303,799	94,036,882	92,786,363
Ending balance	$ 94	$ 94	$ 94	$ 93	$ 91	$ 91	$ 94	$ 93
Common Stock | ATM Program
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock under ATM Program (in shares)			458,459	1,160,706
Issuance of common stock under ATM Program			$ 1
Treasury Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ (63,973)	$ (65,988)	$ (71,966)	$ (98,792)	$ (107,949)	$ (112,208)	$ (71,966)	$ (112,208)
Treasury stock beginning balance (in shares)	(171,790)	(177,207)	(193,273)	(265,366)	(289,975)	(301,420)	(193,273)	(301,420)
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards (in shares)	18,204	5,417	16,066	15,982	24,609	11,445
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards	$ 6,774	$ 2,015	$ 5,978	$ 5,947	$ 9,157	$ 4,259
Ending balance	$ (57,199)	$ (63,973)	$ (65,988)	$ (92,845)	$ (98,792)	$ (107,949)	$ (57,199)	$ (92,845)
Treasury stock ending balance (in shares)	(153,586)	(171,790)	(177,207)	(249,384)	(265,366)	(289,975)	(153,586)	(249,384)
Additional Paid-in Capital
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 17,909,043	$ 17,795,701	$ 17,320,017	$ 16,259,311	$ 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	35,645	527	38,565	31,719	4,882	39,617
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards				0
Stock-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures	106,462	112,815	136,345	106,757	109,005	121,210
Ending balance	18,051,150	17,909,043	17,795,701	17,193,805	16,259,311	16,145,424	18,051,150	17,193,805
Additional Paid-in Capital | ATM Program
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock under ATM Program			300,774	796,018
Accumulated Dividends
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(7,963,253)	(7,639,195)	(7,317,570)	(6,736,338)	(6,449,713)	(6,165,140)	(7,317,570)	(6,165,140)
Dividend distribution on common stock	(319,308)	(318,914)	(318,736)	(286,136)	(282,168)	(282,031)
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards	(343)	(86)	(483)	(327)	(57)	(497)
Accrued dividends on unvested equity awards	(4,695)	(5,058)	(2,406)	(4,031)	(4,400)	(2,045)
Ending balance	(8,287,599)	(7,963,253)	(7,639,195)	(7,026,832)	(6,736,338)	(6,449,713)	(8,287,599)	(7,026,832)
AOCI (Loss)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(1,288,456)	(1,285,188)	(1,389,446)	(1,418,756)	(1,052,914)	(1,085,751)	(1,389,446)	(1,085,751)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(237,554)	(3,268)	104,258	(337,161)	(365,842)	32,837	(136,564)
Ending balance	(1,526,010)	(1,288,456)	(1,285,188)	(1,755,917)	(1,418,756)	(1,052,914)	(1,526,010)	(1,755,917)
Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	3,430,654	3,223,624	2,964,838	2,624,268	2,407,946	2,260,493	2,964,838	2,260,493
Net income (loss)	275,794	207,030	258,786	211,807	216,322	147,453
Ending balance	3,706,448	3,430,654	3,223,624	2,836,075	2,624,268	2,407,946	3,706,448	2,836,075
Non-controlling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(109)	(189)	(134)	(190)	(75)	(318)	(134)	(318)
Net income (loss)	(34)	(17)	(56)	(68)	(80)	240
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(182)	97	0	(28)	(35)	3
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards			1
Ending balance	$ (325)	$ (109)	$ (189)	$ (286)	$ (190)	$ (75)	$ (325)	$ (286)