Non-controlling Interest - Ownership of Common Units (Details) - shares	Dec. 31, 2019	Dec. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
RSAs | Director Compensation Program
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Unvested awards (in shares)	80,000	61,000
Common Units
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Unvested awards (in shares)	3,188,000	3,986,000
Switch, Ltd.
Noncontrolling Interest [Line Items]
Switch, Inc.'s ownership of Common Units (in shares)	89,688,000	55,157,000
Ownership percentage	37.80%	22.70%	10.00%
Noncontrolling interest holders’ ownership of Common Units (in shares)	147,859,000	187,440,000
Noncontrolling interest holders’ ownership of Common Units	62.20%	77.30%
Total Common Units (in shares)	237,547,000	242,597,000