Cash Equivalent Maturity Period

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- Definition

Data Centers Operates In Number Of Markets

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- Definition

Number Of Network Providers To Provide Internet Access

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- Definition

Percentage of accounts receivables or revenues.

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- Definition

Percentage Of Recurring Revenue

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- Definition

Short Term Investments Maturity

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- Definition

Contractual interest rate for funds borrowed, under the debt agreement.

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Interest rate used to find the present value of an amount to be paid or received in the future as an input to measure fair value. For example, but not limited to, weighted average cost of capital (WACC), cost of capital, cost of equity and cost of debt.

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- Definition

The amount of impairment loss recognized in the period resulting from the write-down of the carrying amount of a finite-lived intangible asset to fair value.

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- Definition

The aggregate amount of write-downs for impairments recognized during the period for long lived assets held for use (including those held for disposal by means other than sale).

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- Definition

Amount of reclassification, impairment, donation, or other change to long-lived, physical assets used in the normal conduct of business and not intended for resale. Examples include, but are not limited to, land, buildings, machinery and equipment, office equipment, furniture and fixtures, and computer equipment.

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- Definition

Period which an employee's right to exercise an award is no longer contingent on satisfaction of either a service condition, market condition or a performance condition, in 'PnYnMnDTnHnMnS' format, for example, 'P1Y5M13D' represents the reported fact of one year, five months, and thirteen days.

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- Definition

The estimated dividend rate (a percentage of the share price) to be paid (expected dividends) to holders of the underlying shares over the option's term.

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Nature of Business and Summary of Significant Accounting Policies - Additional Information (Detail) (USD $)	1 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Aug. 31, 2012 Center	Dec. 31, 2014 Services	Dec. 31, 2013	Dec. 31, 2012	Sep. 30, 2007	Jun. 30, 2009
Item Effected [Line Items]
Number of markets data center operates in	9
Number of network providers that provide internet access		1,000
Cash equivalents maturity period		90 days
Short term investment maturity		90 days and one year
A single customer is accounted for a percentage of accounts receivable or revenues for a period		10.00%	10.00%	10.00%
Impairment charge		$ 0	$ 0	$ 9,861,000
Impairment charges related to property, plant and equipment				7,029,000
Impairment charges related to intangible assets				$ 2,832,000
Percentage of revenue derived from recurring revenue streams		90.00%eqix_PercentageOfRecurringRevenue
Equity awards vesting period		4 years
Expected dividend rate		0.00%
Americas and Europe, Middle East and Africa and Asia-Pacific [Member]
Item Effected [Line Items]
Number of markets data center operates in		33
Americas [Member]
Item Effected [Line Items]
Discount rate		9.80%
EMEA [Member]
Item Effected [Line Items]
Discount rate		10.10%
Asia-Pacific [Member]
Item Effected [Line Items]
Discount rate		8.90%
2.50% Convertible Subordinated Notes [Member]
Item Effected [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, percentage		2.50%
3.00% Convertible Subordinated Notes [Member]
Item Effected [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, percentage		3.00%			3.00%
4.75% Convertible Subordinated Notes [Member]
Item Effected [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, percentage		4.75%				4.75%
2.50% Convertible Subordinated Notes Due April 2012 [Member]
Item Effected [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, percentage		2.50%
3.00% Convertible Subordinated Notes Due October 2014 [Member]
Item Effected [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, percentage		3.00%
4.75% Convertible Subordinated Notes [Member]
Item Effected [Line Items]
Debt instrument, interest rate, percentage		4.75%	4.75%	4.75%
Executives [Member] \| Minimum [Member]
Item Effected [Line Items]
Equity awards vesting period		2 years
Executives [Member] \| Maximum [Member]
Item Effected [Line Items]
Equity awards vesting period		4 years