Net Income Per Share - Calculation of Basic and Diluted Net Income Per Share (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2019
Numerator—basic:
Net income attributable to Switch, Inc.—basic	$ 5,097	$ 1,189	$ 3,881	$ 1,922
Numerator—diluted:
Net income attributable to Switch, Inc.—basic	5,097	1,189	3,881	1,922
Effect of dilutive securities:
Shares of Class B and Class C common stock (in shares)	6,253	0	4,598	5,098
Net income attributable to Switch, Inc.—diluted	$ 11,350	$ 1,189	$ 8,479	$ 7,020
Denominator—basic:
Weighted average shares outstanding—basic (in shares)	104,987	77,714	99,676	66,686
Basic net income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.05	$ 0.02	$ 0.04	$ 0.03
Denominator—diluted:
Weighted average shares outstanding—basic (in shares)	104,987	77,714	99,676	66,686
Weighted average effect of dilutive securities:
Weighted average effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	243,916	79,021	243,622	247,227
Diluted net income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.05	$ 0.02	$ 0.03	$ 0.03
Stock options
Weighted average effect of dilutive securities:
Weighted average effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	1,615	627	1,392	334
Restricted stock units
Weighted average effect of dilutive securities:
Weighted average effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	1,224	618	1,030	464
Dividend equivalent units
Weighted average effect of dilutive securities:
Weighted average effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	30	22	30	20
Restricted stock awards
Weighted average effect of dilutive securities:
Weighted average effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	55	40	57	37
Shares of Class B and Class C common stock
Weighted average effect of dilutive securities:
Weighted average effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	136,005	0	141,437	179,686