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		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019	Sep. 30, 2020	Sep. 30, 2019
Numerator—basic:
Net income attributable to Switch, Inc.—basic	$ 5,206	$ 2,947	$ 9,087	$ 4,869
Numerator—diluted:
Net income attributable to Switch, Inc.—basic	5,206	2,947	9,087	4,869
Effect of dilutive securities:
Shares of Class B and Class C common stock (in shares)	0	5,492	10,806	10,590
Net income attributable to Switch, Inc.—diluted	$ 5,206	$ 8,439	$ 19,893	$ 15,459
Denominator—basic:
Weighted average shares outstanding—basic (in shares)	108,690	84,135	102,703	72,566
Basic net income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.05	$ 0.04	$ 0.09	$ 0.07
Denominator—diluted:
Weighted average shares outstanding—basic (in shares)	108,690	84,135	102,703	72,566
Weighted average effect of dilutive securities:
Weighted average effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	111,565	247,142	243,553	247,193
Diluted net income per share (in dollars per share)	$ 0.05	$ 0.03	$ 0.08	$ 0.06
Stock options
Weighted average effect of dilutive securities:
Weighted average effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	1,462	1,050	1,415	572
Restricted stock units
Weighted average effect of dilutive securities:
Weighted average effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	1,358	1,027	1,139	652
Dividend equivalent units
Weighted average effect of dilutive securities:
Weighted average effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	45	24	35	21
Restricted stock awards
Weighted average effect of dilutive securities:
Weighted average effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	10	25	42	33
Shares of Class B and Class C common stock
Weighted average effect of dilutive securities:
Weighted average effect of dilutive securities (in shares)	0	160,881	138,219	173,349