Stockholders' Equity - Components of Accumulated Other Comprehensive Loss (Detail) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended						9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($) country plan	Jun. 30, 2023 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2023 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2022 USD ($)	Jun. 30, 2022 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2022 USD ($)	Sep. 30, 2023 USD ($) country plan	Sep. 30, 2022 USD ($)
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
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
Net Change	(237,736)	(3,171)	104,258	(337,189)	(365,877)	32,840	(136,649)	(670,226)
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
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	$ (1,288,456)	(1,285,188)	(1,389,446)	(1,418,756)	(1,052,914)	(1,085,751)	$ (1,389,446)	(1,085,751)
Net Change	(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)
Foreign currency translation adjustment (“CTA”) loss
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			(1,838,237)				(1,838,237)
Net Change							(229,688)
Ending balance	(2,067,925)						(2,067,925)
Unrealized gain (loss) on cash flow hedges
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			33,953				33,953
Net Change							8,012
Ending balance	41,965						41,965
Net investment hedge CTA gain (loss)
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			415,749				415,749
Net Change							85,462
Ending balance	501,211						501,211
Net actuarial loss on defined benefit plans
AOCI Including Portion Attributable to Noncontrolling Interest, Net of Tax [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance			$ (911)				(911)
Net Change							(350)
Ending balance	$ (1,261)						$ (1,261)