Earnings Per Share - Computation of Basic and Diluted Earnings Per Share (Detail) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		9 Months Ended
	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014	Sep. 30, 2015	Sep. 30, 2014
Earnings Per Share [Abstract]
Net income	$ 41,132	$ 42,961	$ 177,043	$ 94,377
Net (income) loss attributable to redeemable non-controlling interests		(120)		1,179
Net income attributable to Equinix, basic	41,132	42,841	177,043	95,556
Effect of assumed conversion of convertible debt:
Interest expense, net of tax		885		4,862
Net income attributable to Equinix, basic and diluted	$ 41,132	$ 43,726	$ 177,043	$ 100,418
Weighted-average shares used to calculate basic EPS	57,082	53,137	56,894	51,369
Effect of dilutive securities:
Convertible debt		1,621		2,673
Employee equity awards	626	480	627	460
Weighted-average shares used to calculate diluted EPS	57,708	55,238	57,521	54,502
Basic EPS	$ 0.72	$ 0.81	$ 3.11	$ 1.86
Diluted EPS	$ 0.71	$ 0.79	$ 3.08	$ 1.84