Stockholders' Equity - Rollforward (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended				6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2022	Mar. 31, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021	Mar. 31, 2021	Jun. 30, 2022	Jun. 30, 2021
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (in shares)		90,571,406			90,571,406
Beginning balance	$ 10,942,810	$ 10,881,764	$ 10,576,675	$ 10,634,118	$ 10,881,764	$ 10,634,118
Beginning balance (in shares)		(301,420)			(301,420)
Net income (loss)	216,242	$ 147,693	68,487	156,074	$ 363,935	224,561
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(365,877)	32,840	67,745	(95,481)	$ (333,037)	(27,736)
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock	14,039
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards		43,876	0	40,034
Dividend distribution on common stock	(282,168)	(282,031)	(257,199)	(256,321)
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards	(57)	(497)	(55)	(437)
Accrued dividends on unvested equity awards	(4,400)	(2,045)	(4,016)	(3,661)
Stock-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures	$ 109,005	121,210	95,236	102,349
Ending balance (in shares)	91,075,115				91,075,115
Ending balance	$ 10,629,594	10,942,810	10,646,472	10,576,675	$ 10,629,594	10,646,472
Ending balance (in shares)	(265,366)				(265,366)
ATM Program
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock			99,599
Equinix Stockholders' Equity
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 10,942,885	10,882,082	10,576,834	10,633,988	$ 10,882,082	10,633,988
Net income (loss)	216,322	147,453	68,339	156,362
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(365,842)	32,837	67,734	(95,480)
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock	14,039
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards		43,876		40,034
Dividend distribution on common stock	(282,168)	(282,031)	(257,199)	(256,321)
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards	(57)	(497)	(55)	(437)
Accrued dividends on unvested equity awards	(4,400)	(2,045)	(4,016)	(3,661)
Stock-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures	109,005	121,210	95,236	102,349
Ending balance	$ 10,629,784	$ 10,942,885	10,646,472	$ 10,576,834	$ 10,629,784	$ 10,646,472
Equinix Stockholders' Equity | ATM Program
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock			$ 99,599
Common Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance (in shares)	91,303,799	90,872,826	89,890,922	89,462,304	90,872,826	89,462,304
Beginning balance	$ 91	$ 91	$ 90	$ 89	$ 91	$ 89
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock (in shares)	36,682
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards (in shares)		430,973	36,674	428,618
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards				$ 1
Ending balance (in shares)	91,340,481	91,303,799	90,065,200	89,890,922	91,340,481	90,065,200
Ending balance	$ 91	$ 91	$ 90	$ 90	$ 91	$ 90
Common Stock | ATM Program
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock (in shares)			137,604
Treasury Stock
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ (107,949)	$ (112,208)	$ (117,786)	$ (122,118)	$ (112,208)	$ (122,118)
Beginning balance (in shares)	(289,975)	(301,420)	(316,412)	(328,052)	(301,420)	(328,052)
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock (in shares)	24,609
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock	$ 9,157
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards (in shares)		11,445	1,389	11,640
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards		$ 4,259	$ 516	$ 4,332
Ending balance	$ (98,792)	$ (107,949)	$ (117,270)	$ (117,786)	$ (98,792)	$ (117,270)
Ending balance (in shares)	(265,366)	(289,975)	(315,023)	(316,412)	(265,366)	(315,023)
Additional Paid-in Capital
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	$ 16,145,424	$ 15,984,597	$ 15,166,407	$ 15,028,357	$ 15,984,597	$ 15,028,357
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock	4,882
Issuance of common stock and release of treasury stock for employee equity awards		39,617	(516)	35,701
Stock-based compensation, net of estimated forfeitures	109,005	121,210	95,236	102,349
Ending balance	16,259,311	16,145,424	15,360,726	15,166,407	16,259,311	15,360,726
Additional Paid-in Capital | ATM Program
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Issuance of common stock			99,599
Accumulated Dividends
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(6,449,713)	(6,165,140)	(5,379,693)	(5,119,274)	(6,165,140)	(5,119,274)
Dividend distribution on common stock	(282,168)	(282,031)	(257,199)	(256,321)
Settlement of accrued dividends on vested equity awards	(57)	(497)	(55)	(437)
Accrued dividends on unvested equity awards	(4,400)	(2,045)	(4,016)	(3,661)
Ending balance	(6,736,338)	(6,449,713)	(5,640,963)	(5,379,693)	(6,736,338)	(5,640,963)
AOCI (Loss)
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(1,052,914)	(1,085,751)	(1,008,848)	(913,368)	(1,085,751)	(913,368)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(365,842)	32,837	67,734	(95,480)	(333,005)
Ending balance	(1,418,756)	(1,052,914)	(941,114)	(1,008,848)	(1,418,756)	(941,114)
Retained Earnings
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	2,407,946	2,260,493	1,916,664	1,760,302	2,260,493	1,760,302
Net income (loss)	216,322	147,453	68,339	156,362
Ending balance	2,624,268	2,407,946	1,985,003	1,916,664	2,624,268	1,985,003
Non-controlling Interests
Increase (Decrease) in Stockholders' Equity [Roll Forward]
Beginning balance	(75)	(318)	(159)	130	(318)	130
Net income (loss)	(80)	240	148	(288)
Other comprehensive income (loss)	(35)	3	11	(1)
Ending balance	$ (190)	$ (75)	$ 0	$ (159)	$ (190)	$ 0